BUTTING is one of the leading processors of stainless steels. As these materials are particularly resistant to corrosion and temperature, and therefore require little maintenance, they are particularly environmentally friendly. In addition, BUTTING is always looking for ways to optimise its business activities – including in the area of recycling metal waste.
BUTTING in Knesebeck has been working closely with the recycling specialist Cronimet Envirotec since 2021. The aim is to reduce waste volumes and at the same time improve the recycling rate by reprocessing waste generated in the production process.
Currently, residue from the cutting and grinding processes and dust from BUTTING filter systems are recycled by Cronimet Envirotec. In a special recycling process, materials subject to mandatory waste disposal can be separated into their individual constituents again and thus fed back into the general value chain. This is great progress!
Materials subject to mandatory waste disposal become recyclable materials again, which can then be used, for example, as additives for metal production. BUTTING's metal waste containing oil and water is processed using vacuum distillation technology. Here, for example, sludge from grinding processes is dried and de-oiled. In addition to distilled water and oils, this process also produces metal powder, meaning that all metallic components can be 100% recycled.
Powders and dusts containing metal are processed in a special briquetting plant using a natural binding material. This ensures that even the finest particles can be bound and the dust processed into solid metallic briquettes.
BUTTING strives to align its business activities with the United Nations' "17 Sustainable Development Goals" (SDGs for short). In accordance with the 12th goal, "Responsible consumption and production", BUTTING would also like to recycle other types of metal waste in an environmentally friendly manner in the future.
Our waste management officer Werner Peesel tracks and supports the responsible disposal of our various types of waste:
"Our goals are, on the one hand, to minimise waste from our various processes and, on the other hand, to subject it to ever finer separation at the point of origin. We are aware that our waste contains valuable raw materials, so we strive to return these raw materials to the general value chain in order to conserve natural resources. We have been steadily improving our recycling rate for several years now."
BUTTING – more than pipes – for a better quality of life