Resource-Recycling Business

We recycle waste by using
an electric arc furnace.

Waste is recycled by being melted in an electric arc furnace (EAF) together with scrap metal, which is the main raw material.
After such processing, the metallic portion is completely material recycled,
and the remaining portion is thermally recycled to recover and use the generated energy.
Thus, ideal resource recycling with near-zero residue is achieved.


Benefits of recycling by our company

  • Effective

    The rate of recycled useful
    resources is over 99%.

  • Clean

    A clean melting treatment that satisfies the environmental
    standard is achieved.

  • Economical

    A treatment excelling in cost is achieved
    with the use of an EAF.


Effective

Effective

Recycling of
waste batteries

Iron, manganese dioxide, zinc, and carbon,
which are the main components of alkaline manganese dry batteries, are all valuable resources.
Our company recycles the valuable resources contained in waste batteries on a 100% basis.

  • Steel in the metal jacket is melted, and then recycled as a steel product.
  • Manganese in the positive electrode is partially recovered as an alloy element in steel, making the steel more resilient.
  • Zinc in the negative electrode is evaporated, the vapor is collected using a dust precipitator, and then recycled as zinc ingots at a zinc refinery.
  • The carbon component in the positive electrode helps recover manganese into steel by reducing the manganese oxide. The other components are also appropriately treated in the ultra-hot EAF, and no residue is produced.

Clean

Economical

Mechanism of recycling

Our company conducts clean and low-cost recycling through the EAF fusion process.
Since this process is material recycling in which the material
is instantaneously melted and detoxicated by ultraheat treatment, no residue is produced.
In addition, we conduct thermal recycling in which thermal energy is recovered and used.

Ultraheat complete fusion process using an electric arc furnace

All materials are completely fused in an electric arc furnace. The molten steel is effectively used into a steel product, the slag into a base course material, the dust into a raw material for zinc refining, etc.

Two types of recycling are in operation.

・Complete material recycling for metallic components (Fe, Mn, etc.)
・Highly efficient thermal recycling of raw materials for energy

  1. ① Charging into an EAF
    Waste is charged into an
    EAF together with scrap metal,
    which is the main raw material.
  2. ② Melting and refining
    (waste melting)

    Waste and scrap are melted
    and detoxicated at ultra-high temperature.
    Molten steel is recycled into a steel product.
  3. ③ Removal of slag
    Slag, which is removed during refining,
    is also effectively used for example
    as a base course material.
  4. ④ Recovery of dust
    Dust captured by a dust collector
    is also effectively used for example
    as a raw material for zinc refining.

Ultraheat complete fusion process using an electric arc furnace

All materials are completely fused in an electric arc furnace. The molten steel is effectively used into a steel product, the slag into a base course material, the dust into a raw material for zinc refining, etc.

  1. Charging into an EAF
    Waste is charged into an EAF together with scrap metal,
    which is the main raw material.
  1. Melting and refining (waste melting)
    Waste and scrap are melted and detoxicated at ultra-high temperature. Molten steel is recycled into a steel product.
  2. Removal of slag
    Slag, which is removed during refining, is also effectively used for example as a base course material.
  3. Recovery of dust
    Dust captured by a dust collector is also effectively used for example as a raw material for zinc refining.

Two types of recycling are in operation.

・Complete material recycling for metallic components (Fe, Mn, etc.)
・Highly efficient thermal recycling of raw materials for energy

Information on treatment of general
waste and industrial waste

In 2002, we launched a resource-recycling business at
our Mizushima Works as one of the earliest companies as EAF company,
taking advantage of the technology, experience, and know-how we have cultivated through EAF refining.
Currently, we also conduct waste treatment at our Kashima Works,
and are seeking to expand our resource-recycling business.

日本地図 日本地図

Waste processing at JFE Bars & Shapes

[General waste]
Treatment of waste batteries has been conducted at our Mizushima Works, which is our base in the West Japan area (since April 2008), and our Kashima Works, which is our base in the East Japan area (since March 2017). JFE Bars & Shapes is the only EAF steelmaker that efficiently transports waste batteries nationwide, and has processing bases in the east and west. In October 2021, the company also became capable of processing waste spring mattresses.
[Industrial waste]
The adoption of new materials and composite materials has advanced due to next-generation cars and new energy sources (e.g., solar light, wind energy), and waste that is difficult to process with ordinary incinerators is increasing. JFE Bars & Shapes strives for environmental conservation through reduction of landfill disposal by recycling hard-to-treat materials, while taking advantage of the features of ultraheat melting using an EAF.

Mizushima Works

Facility installation permit

  Industrial waste   General waste
Permitter Kurashiki City   Kurashiki City
Scope of business Intermediate processing (incineration)
Type of Facility Waste-processing facility (incinerator)
Permit No. No. 10020165583 No. 100004
Date of permit April 8, 2022 November 2, 2015
Expiration date of permit March 31, 2027
Processing capacity 540 t/day (540 t x 1 unit)
Processing facility DC electric arc furnace (1 unit), dust collector (1 unit)
Air flow: 374,000 Nm3/hr
Type of waste Cinder, sludge, scrap metal, scrap glass, scrap concrete, scrap ceramics, slag, debris, soot and dust, waste plastics, scrap paper, scrap wood, woodchips, scrap fiber Waste batteries, waste spring mattresses

State of maintenance and management

Outline of
the facility
Name of processing facility Unit 2 electric arc furnace
Type of measurement (1) Measurement of the concentration of smoke and soot in exhaust gas
(2) Measurement of the concentration of dioxin in exhaust gas
Measuring position (1) Dust collector outlet for each EAF
Items and units of measurement (1) Smoke, soot, and dust: g/Nm3 NOx: ppm SOx: ppm HCL: mg/m3
(2) Dioxin (electric arc furnace standard) dioxin concentration: ng/Nm3
Maintenance management value
Result of measuring of the smoke, soot, and dust in exhaust gas (latest measurement result)
Date of sampling: January 2024
Soot and dust: 0.004 g/Nm3
NOx: 16 ppm
SOx: 11 ppm
HCL: 0.2 mg/m3
Result of measuring of the concentration of dioxin, etc. in exhaust gas (latest measurement result)
Date of sampling: January 2024
Dioxin concentration: 0.190 ng-TEQ/Nm3
Maintenance and management values of waste processing facilities (EAFs)(Japanese)

Kashima Works

Facility installation permit

  Industrial waste   General waste
Permitter Ibaraki Prefecture   Ibaraki Prefecture
Scope of business Intermediate processing (incineration)
Type of Facility Waste-processing facility (incinerator)
Permit No. No. 00821165583 No. 1-145
Date of permit December 5, 2022 July 6, 2022
Expiration date of permit December 4, 2027
Processing capacity 220t/day (220 t ×1 unit)
Processing facility DC electric arc furnace (1 unit),dust collector (1 unit)
Air flow: 240,000 Nm3/hr
Type of waste Cinder, sludge, waste plastics, scrap metal, scrap glass, scrap concrete, scrap ceramics, slag, debris Waste batteries, waste spring mattresses

State of maintenance and management

Outline of the facility
Name of processing facility Unit 2 electric arc furnace
Type of measurement (1) Measurement of the concentration of smoke and soot in exhaust gas
(2) Measurement of the concentration of dioxin in exhaust gas
Measuring position (1) Dust collector outlet for each EAF
Items and units of measurement (1) Smoke, soot, and dust: g/Nm3
NOx: ppm
SOx: ppm
HCL: mg/m3
(2) Dioxin (electric arc furnace standard) dioxin concentration: ng/Nm3
Maintenance management value
Result of measuring of the smoke, soot, and dust in exhaust gas (latest measurement result)
Date of sampling: December 2023
Soot and dust: 0.043 g/Nm3
NOx: 4 ppm
SOx: <0.1 ppm
HCL: <1 mg/m3
Result of measuring of the concentration of dioxin, etc. in exhaust gas (latest measurement result)
Date of sampling: January 2024
Dioxin concentration: 0.046 ng-TEQ/Nm3
Maintenance and management values of waste processing facilities (EAFs)(Japanese)
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