Norwegian Composite Centre (NSK) is working on a project for recycling of GFRP-containers from Ragasco AS

 Up to now, there have been few alternatives for recycling of GFRP- products (Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastic). NSK has together with Sintef Raufoss Manufacturing and Ragasco AS been working on a project on recycling of Ragasco’s GFRP-containers for LPG.

 The German company Zajons, have specialised on an process making this kind of waste into alternative fuel for the industry. Together with Holcim, a large cement producer in Germany, they have achieved a solution where the GFRP goes into the process as an important energy source in the production of cement.

NSK is now starting up a test-project with Ragasco AS to industrialize the process. The GFRP-waste form Ragascos production is to be transported to Zajons facilities in Germany. Parallel to this project there are also a group at SINTEF working on a Norwegian solution based on the same process.

Photo: Ragnar Sandmark, NSK

The recycling process is quite simple. GFRP-products are cut into smaller fractions in a huge mill. The waste are added other waste-products to get the right burning values. The waste mix goes then in as an energy source in the cement production at Holcims plant in Germany. This process makes up recycling of 100% of the GFRP.

GFRP-products has for a long time had a problem with waste management. Traditionally waste from the products has been delivered to waste dump, where it has been covered with earth. The new solution is a much better way, and a lot more environmentalfriendly way of dealing with GFRP- waste.  

Photo: Ragnar Sandmark, NSK