The last consortium meeting of the European RENEW project took place in Seville, presenting the results and progress at its pilot plant dedicated to reducing CO2 emissions in e-waste recycling. The meeting involved project partners including Erion, TREEE, Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech), the German Fraunhofer Technology Centre and the Belgian KU Leuven University.
Coordinated by Atlantic Copper and co-funded by EIT Raw Materials, RENEW aims to revolutionise the recycling of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), with an innovative focus on the recovery of critical metals and epoxy resin from printed circuit boards, the technological heart of electronic devices.
A technology that combines circular economy and innovation
RENEW stands out for its integrated approach:
In Italy, thanks to Erion, eco-points have been set up to incentivise the separate collection of WEEE and raise public awareness with information campaigns and interactive activities. In the meantime, TREEE took care of the procurement and necessary characterisation of the printed circuit boards required for the development of the project.
These components were sent to the Atlantic Copper and TalTech pilot plants, where a state-of-the-art technology was validated to separate epoxy resin from precious metals such as copper, gold, silver, palladium and platinum.
Enhancing epoxy resin and reducing emissions
Fraunhofer has developed a process to convert the organic fraction of epoxy resin into gases for energy recovery and useful oils for the production of valuable chemical compounds, promoting a circular use of resources.
Meanwhile, Tallinn University has set up a start-up company, ImpactPCB, to turn the project results into commercial opportunities. Furthermore, technical and economic feasibility studies have assessed the industrial implementation of these technologies in different scenarios, such as copper smelters and waste management plants.
Towards a new era of recycling with CirCular
The promising results of RENEW could be integrated into the new CirCular plant that Atlantic Copper is building in Huelva, Spain. This infrastructure aims to further reduce the smelter's carbon footprint and be a replicable model for other smelters in the metal sector.
A contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals
The RENEW project supports the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the UN 2030 Agenda, in particular SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production). It promotes sustainable practices, optimises the use of resources and improves recycling efficiency, setting itself as a concrete example of a circular economy for the benefit of the environment and society.