The Right Wire for Incineration

Not all baling wire is created equally and that is because it is used in an incredible range of industries. Even within the same industry, say the galvanisation of steel, it has such a myriad of uses necessitating a wide range of widths and strengths. 

Image Courtesy of hinnamsaisuy / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

One of the most prevalent industries of use is waste management. Baling wire is required for everything from transport to storage to holding bundles together for incineration. From the moment garbage (and yes, recycling) leaves your front curb, baling wire is in use. And it may not be the reason for the push towards recycling, but it has certainly assisted with its progression. That said, there is still a lot of garbage that needs to find a home in a landfill, or more preferably be incinerated, and baling wire makes that possible too.

Galvanised Wire / Image Courtesy of D R Baling Wire

But, baling wire by nature is strong and resilient, which is exactly why it is used in the galvanisation process. And, unfortunately, that sturdiness is what makes it so attractive, only it does not burn at the temperatures used to incinerate garbage. So, a slightly new product is required, one that leaves no waste behind at all –this could be a special form of plastic wire. 

How Incineration Works

There are several different types of incinerators in use around the world. These range from burn barrels to moving grate incinerators. They all have one thing in common, the use of fire at extensively high temperatures to reduce the physical amount of garbage, hopefully between 80-100%.  

In principle, waste that makes it to an incineration plant already has recyclable materials taken out of the pile. These days, it is expected that households and businesses do much of the separation themselves and remarkably little is left to do at separation centres and incineration plants. However, this is not always the case, and many incineration centres make use of separation centres, which bundle compacted waste for transport, or they will have their own facility.

As separated and compacted garbage arrives at an incineration plant, it is taking to a tipping hall, which is more or less what it says it is. This falls directly into a trash storage bunker. Usually, robotic arms move bundled garbage from this area into the incineration chamber. From here, nitrogen oxide, mercury, dioxide, acid gases and particulates are all removed from the garbage and its gases. What is left behind, is typically ash, that cannot be broken down further, and gases that undergo a pollution control test before being released into the atmosphere.

Assuming that everything recyclable and anything that cannot be incinerated has already been taken out of the process, then the only thing that should be left after burning is the baling wire used to hold bundles of garbage together.

And that is exactly why new innovation is required when it comes to using baling wire in the incineration process.  

Incineration in the United Kingdom

Over 109 square miles of land in the United Kingdom is used for landfill purposes. 16 million tonnes of garbage annually are added to these sites, making it difficult to sustain indefinitely. This is one of the primary reasons that incineration plants have become a popular method for disposing of garbage.  

About 10% of all UK waste is burnt before hauling remnants off to landfill sites. There are over 130 waste incineration sites in England and Wales and these are monitored by the Environment Agency.  Every operational incineration plant required a permit, either from the local government or the agency itself.

Most of the incinerators create steam energy (which is used on the main grid) as well as offering a reduction in the amount of garbage taken to landfills. For example, the Sheffield Energy Recovery Facility supplies energy to the National Grid, as well as the District Energy Network. And the incineration plant generates enough power to provide electricity to around 22,600 homes. Over 140 buildings in Sheffield are heated through this scheme. And all that comes from garbage!  

It certainly makes you wonder why such a large amount of garbage makes it into landfills in the first place. But landfill dumping in the UK is set to change.  
Landfill directives from the European Union have led to legislation and the imposition of landfill taxes and allowances. These laws are set to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases escaping from landfills, but with the added benefit of saving land and creating energy, the amount of garbage destined for incinerators is set to increase.  

The Argument for New Baling Wire Innovation

As the United Kingdom increases its drive towards incineration and moves away from excessive landfill use, additional incinerators will need to be built. And, as with any growth, additional accessories will be required. Coupled with increased recycling initiatives, less and less waste should be left behind in the ash piles of incinerators and hopefully that will amount to zero ash.  

New innovation in baling wire manufacturing could facilitate this process. Provided wire has the strength to withstand the transportation and storage phases, but the ability to incinerate at the temperatures used within Energy Recovery Facilities, waste management will only become easier over time. A lack of residue also means that any waste left behind in the process does not come from the facilitation of incineration.

Fortunately, these innovations have already been considered and are moving from concept to developmental phases within the UK. Not only is that an example of business working to improve the quality of their product but the earth and its inhabitants, as well.

It is entirely possible that you have never considered what happens to your garbage when it leaves your house, or the positive effects recycling can have on the environment. But, until all waste is fully recyclable, these innovations are a real planet saver.

Here at D R Baling Wire Manufacturers Ltd. we are always investing in innovative, ground-breaking wire products and machinery; just visit our website to find the right product for your needs! www.drbalingwire.co.uk