BMRA releases Landfill Guidance for Shredder Operators
The British Metals Recycling Association (BMRA), the voice of the UK metals recycling industry, has released a new document, Landfill Guidance for Shredder Operators.
Aimed at those metal recyclers who shred and process end-of-life vehicles, household appliances and other metal wastes, it concerns the landfilling of metal shredder residue (MSR).
The guidance highlights current and future options for treatment and disposal of MSR, and the regulatory requirement of operators.
“The Regulatory Position Statement RPS 314 is scheduled to be withdrawn by 31 March 2026,” said BMRA Technical Director, Howard Bluck. “If that happens, many MSRs would only be allowed to be landfilled at sites permitted for hazardous waste. We are working closely with EA colleagues to consider the impact of this, as we believe much of this material is unlikely to meet hazardous waste landfill Waste Acceptance Criteria (WAC).”
“It is important for shredder operators to understand the classification of their MSR and any business and financial implications that this may have when disposing of this material”.
The guidance is available to all shredder operators in the UK and can be obtained by contacting the BMRA: [email protected].
BMRA members can login to access the guidance.
Media Contact:
Kate Magill – BMRA
e. [email protected]
Notes to editors:
The British Metals Recycling Association (BMRA) represents the £7 billion metals recycling sector, which comprises an estimated 2,000 businesses and employs over 15,000 people. The industry trades and processes 11.5 million tonnes of ferrous and non-ferrous metals every year, including: steel, aluminium and copper. On average, the UK exports between 70%-80% of all scrap arisings in the UK. The industry contributes £9 billion in gross vale added each year.
Scrap metals are secondary raw materials whose use reduces the demand for precious natural resources needed to make new metal compounds – such as iron ore in steelmaking; nickel in stainless steel; or alumina and bauxite in aluminium smelting.
For example, every tonne of recycled steel saves:
- 1.5 tonnes of iron ore
- 1.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide
- 0.5 tonnes of coal
- 70% of the energy
- 40% of the water
The figures for aluminium and copper are even more impressive. The recycling of copper requires up to 85% less energy than primary production. Around the world, this saves 40 million tonnes of COâ. Recycling aluminium uses 95% less energy than producing aluminium from raw materials and saves 97% of greenhouse gas emissions produced in the primary production process.