Results of the Russian Environmental Forum

On October 12-13, 2021, the Russian Ecological Forum was held, in which Sergey Lukyantsev, Deputy Chairman of the Ecology Committee of the StekloSouz Association, took part.

Sergey Lukyantsev made a presentation on the topic: "CREATION OF A SYSTEM OF INVOLVING GLASS IN THE ECONOMIC TURNOVER".

The cullet is an excellent raw material for the production of glass, the most important additive to the glass batch. The cullet is a waste from the use of previously welded glass, which means that such energy-consuming stages of glass making as silicate formation and glass formation have already been passed, the crystal bonds of silicon dioxide molecules are broken, therefore its melting point is 1200 degrees, while quartz sand melts at 1400-1450 degrees. The number of glass melting cycles without losing its physical and chemical properties is practically infinite, which makes this material unique for the circular economy, which we all talk about so much today. There is no need to substantiate the obvious economic and environmental feasibility of cullet utilization for a long time.

Unfortunately, the domestic glass container industry uses in its production, according to our estimates, from 10 to 25% of cullet in the composition of the mixture "charge + cullet". At the same time, the share of cullet from European manufacturers exceeds 60%, while the world's leaders reach 90%.

It is important to understand that only pre-processed, i.e. cleaned from dirt, metal, plastic, fractionated and sorted by color glass waste can be used in a glass furnace, i.e. recycled during the production of glass containers.

One of the most important features of glass production is the ability to make it from relatively cheap natural materials that are abundant. This means that the use of cullet must be competitive, i.e. the cost of cullet should not exceed the workshop cost of the charge. Otherwise, the use of cullet becomes impractical. The prime cost of 1 ton of glass batch is 6,000 rubles / ton today.

According to data from open sources, in Europe, the cost of cullet is about 64 euros / ton, while the cost of the charge is 62 euros / ton = 3-4%. In our country, this excess reaches 10-15%, while talking about the quality suitable for glassmaking is not necessary - absolutely all cullet is processed at the plant.

The rise in the level of recycled glass raw materials should be driven primarily by the creation of efficient collection systems. Both from the population and by separating glass from the MSW stream.

To organize waste separation in households, it is important not only to install containers for recyclable waste and separate containers for glass everywhere, but also to conduct active environmental information work with the participation of both the state and business. To use the superpowers of state television channels, which today are practically not involved in environmental education of Russian citizens. We believe that the role of the state in this process is the most important - the state is simply obliged to tell all of us why separate collection is necessary. When everyone is impressed with how it affects our present and the future of our children, this will be the strongest motivation for using the segregated collection system.

At the same time, the glass container business is already engaged in arranging containers for collecting glass, working with the HoReCa system, conducting environmental campaigns in schools and public spaces, organizing collection points for recyclable materials from the population.

There are several options for organizing separate waste collection:

• containers on the principle "each fraction has its own container",
• a time schedule for the removal of certain waste with an associated allowed time for taking out bags with a certain type of waste and only three containers - mixed waste, sorted waste, glass, etc.

Processing of glass waste is the most important stage in the preparation of cullet supplied to the glass container plant for disposal.

Standard technological scheme for cullet processing, i.e. preparing it for disposal, includes: crushing equipment, drying equipment, equipment for dedusting, sieve equipment, equipment for separating magnetic metal inclusions, equipment for separating non-magnetic metal inclusions, equipment for optical sorting of glass by color, auxiliary equipment.

"StekloSouz" of Russia believes that the legislative measures currently being taken should help the country's glass industry become a direct participant in the collection and processing of glass waste.

The great geographical extent of Russia simply obliges the state to compensate (subsidize) part of the costs of transporting sorted waste from the places of generation to the places of their processing and disposal.

And this is an objective reality.

By the way, state support measures are widely used abroad, such as the abolition of personal income tax, social benefits, etc. If the ecologistBecause the security is the task of everyone, the state should also take part in its solution.

With the existing battle processing system, our specialists have experience of its successful application up to a ratio of 40 to 60. As the experience of foreign factories shows, when using optical sorting of glass, it is possible to bring its share to 70-80%. A further increase in the share of cullet use requires its uniformity not only in color, but also in chemical composition. The limiting factor here will be the accuracy of maintaining the chemical composition of the glass. Those. the amount of batch adjustment should exceed possible deviations in the chemical composition of the cullet.

At the same time, it is very important to note that with a multiple increase in the share of cullet, the main investment needs will be associated precisely with the stage of its processing, since requirements for purity and uniformity of chemical composition are increasing.

Everyone knows the experience of the "Korkinsky" glass factory (Chelyabinsk region), which from the day of its foundation in the 40s of the last century to this day has been working on 100% cullet.

Therefore, in general, the glass container industry is ready for a two to threefold increase in the share of cullet in the composition of glass raw materials.

Summarizing the above, we can conclude:

1. In order for glass waste to be sent to economic circulation, and not to MSW landfills, it is necessary to continue work everywhere on the further implementation and development of the separate collection of secondary material resources, including glass waste in the third stream;

2. It is more efficient to use the existing collection points for secondary material resources and quickly open new ones. This requires shareware land.

3. Constantly carry out information and explanatory work with legal entities and the population on the issues of separate collection

4. The process of glass waste management needs state support, the mechanism of this support can and should be ROP.

To avoid market distortions when considering the value of the eco-collection rate, it is necessary to cover all types of packaging materials due to the significant difference in the weight of one conventional unit of containers of the same volume made of different materials. It seems logical to us, when considering the eco-collection rate, to operate not with the mass of the released packaging, but with the volume of packed products.

Results of the Forum:

An electronic model of the Federal Scheme for MSW Management has been formed. The Russian environmental operator has coordinated territorial schemes with all regions. The system includes 1200 operating waste management facilities, airports, since it is impossible to build facilities next to them, areas of operation of regional operators, as well as routes of garbage trucks; in total, 18 thousand such vehicles run across Russia. FedSchema will ensure the traceability of waste by synchronizing with GLONASS sensors that are installed on garbage trucks. The fedschema will be published after government approval.

A large block at the Russian Economic Forum was devoted to investments in the industry. It is proposed to actively use this financing instrument for infrastructure development. The Russian environmental operator currently has three options to provide support measures:

- Enter into the authorized capital;

- Provide guarantees for loans and borrowings;

- Buy back bonds.

The last of the above measures was approved by the Government for the REO in June 2021. This form of support has proven to be extremely popular with investors. Direct investment in infrastructure has begun. REO will invest 6.2 billion rubles in 13 objects this year, and the total cost of these projects will amount to 30 billion rubles.

In total, by 2030, it is planned to put into operation a capacity of 94 million tons of MSW, of which processing will amount to 47 million tons, composting - 11.7 million tons, fuel production - 2.9 million tons. A total of 430 billion rubles will be required for the construction of 950 facilities.

Press center "StekloSouz"