Outline
• Recycling at Trail Operations
• Used lead acid batteries
• E-waste and CRT glass
• Zinc alkaline batteries
• Fluorescent light bulbs
• Technical & Business Capabilities
• Challenges
• Impact of Legislation
• Identify synergies for success
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Used Lead Acid Batteries (ULABs)
• ULABs have been processed at Trail Operations for 30 years.
• KC Recycling was established by Murray Bayley in 1988 and has
been breaking ULABs and providing battery products to Trail
Operations ever since.
• As a ULAB recycler, Teck worked with the BC MoE and other
stakeholders to establish the BC ULAB collection program that
began in June 1991.
• In 2012, ~11,700 tonnes of lead in battery products were
processed by Teck, which is equivalent to ~1.6 million vehicle
batteries.
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E-Waste and CRT Glass
• Teck and KC Recycling expanded their relationship to include the
processing of e-waste and CRT glass starting in 2006.
• Environmental testing and monitoring was required for Ministry of
Environment approval.
• Teck contracts with the Electronic Products Recycling
Association (EPRA) for the recycling of whole e-waste.
• KC is the whole e-waste receiver and processing facility.
• Processed e-waste streams generated at KC either treated at
Trail Operations (shredded e-waste or CRT glass) or sold to
other downstream processors (aluminum, steel, copper, etc.).
• Over 70,000 tonnes of whole e-waste and CRT glass has been
processed through KC Recycling for Teck since 2006.
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Zinc Alkaline Batteries (ZABs)
• Processing ZABs through #2 SFF
began in 2008 with MoE approval.
• Over 1,300 tonnes have been
processed.
• Performing tests to expand technical
capabilities to allow increased
treatment rate.
• Not currently participating as a recycler
in the BC battery recycling EPR
stewardship program (Call2Recycle).
• Batteries sourced from BC, AB & CA.
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Fluorescent Light Bulbs (FLBs)
• Teck began processing fluorescent light bulbs in 2010.
• Material is received pre-crushed in drums and is added to the
feed mix to the KIVCET furnace.
• Material is sourced through multiple companies & jurisdictions.
• The BC Light Recycle program began in 2010 and expanded at
the end of 2012. Teck is currently evaluating future participation
in this program.
• Over 250 tonnes of material
has been treated since 2010.
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Technical & Business Capabilities
Need to understand the technical and business capabilities
required to create a successful project
• What does each party bring to the table – strengths & weaknesses?
• ULAB Example:
• Technical capabilities:
• KC knows how to break the batteries and separate them into their
constituent parts.
• Teck can refine the battery products into 99.99% pure lead.
• Business capabilities:
• KC has contacts in ULAB market, can manage health, safety,
environmental requirements.
• Teck has contacts for tolling arrangements and for the sale of lead to
customers, can also manage HS&E requirements.
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Challenges
Challenges still arise even when good plans are implemented
• The less well established a process, the greater the technical
uncertainty.
• The market changes – and it can change fast:
• The impact of new legislation.
• New entrants into the market – often come with new skill sets;
• Markets can go from under-served to over-served.
• Need to scan the environment and look for threats, not just
opportunities.
• Transportation costs can be a hurdle on lower value goods.
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Impact of Legislation
Don’t underestimate the impact of legislation
• The market for e-waste and other materials has been created by
legislation: • Many of the materials have insufficient value for recovery
without the environmental handling fee (EHF) paid into
stewardship programs.
• Changes in legislation could increase or decrease the
supply of various materials.
• Health & Safety, Environment and other legislation needs to be
thoroughly understood.
• Industry specific qualification programs are being established
and must be adhered to for entry into the market.
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Identify Synergies for Success
Look for opportunities where there is a good fit between the
capabilities of multiple organizations
• Murray Bayley (KC) had identified a source of lead in
ULABs before it even became a business and identified
the fit with Teck.
• In the e-waste business, Teck had identified the possible
business opportunity and the fit with Trail Operations
technical capabilities while KC brought their entrepreneurial
spirit and ingenuity.
• Processing ZABs is another example of a good fit of
capabilities.
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