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| Overview: | Glass pulverizing converts any waste glass (e.g., bottles, window panes, and windshields) into usable aggregate products. The consistency of these products may range from coarse sand to fine gravel. Pulverized glass can be used in many ways. It can be used as an aggregate substitute for gravel and sand, as well as for glassphalt (e.g., glass/asphalt mixes), turf and soil amendment, decorative landscaping, water filtration media, and sandblasting. Pulverized glass also is a convenient form for storing and transporting glass for recycling. A glass pulverizer is useful when large quantities of waste glass are generated.
Typical glass pulverizer systems consist of a glass pulverizer, trommel screen/separator, and metering surge hopper. The capacity of the glass pulverizer ranges from less than one to 20 tons per hour. The trommel screen capacity ranges from three to 20 tons per hour, and the metering surge hopper capacity ranges from two to four cubic yards. The system pulverizes glass and separates caps, metal, or plastic from the glass material. Glass pulverizing systems are available in both stationary and mobile models. Pulverized glass can be used on-site for several applications, including road base, fill, and as a substitute for sand in other applications. Glass pulverizing produces no new waste streams. The pollution prevention impact of this technology is the reduction of glass disposal in landfills. Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, currently uses a glass pulverizer at the base recycling center. It both decreases the volume of waste glass at the base, and allows Dyess AFB to diversify in the used glass markets. The primary use for the pulverized glass is road base for construction projects. |
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| Compliance Benefit: | Glass pulverizers prepare glass
for recycling or reuse, thereby helping facilities to meet the provisions
of Executive Order (EO) 13101 requiring executive agencies (e.g., Department of Defense) to
incorporate waste prevention and recycling into their daily operations. A glass
pulverizer will increase electricity use. Under EO 13123, federal
facilities are required to reduce energy consumption. In addition, quantities of
hydraulic fluid associated with the use of glass pulverizer systems may increase
a facility's need to comply with SARA (40 CFR 355, 370) and EO 13148
reporting requirements as well as spill plan requirements under 40 CFR 112.
The compliance benefits listed here are only meant to be used as general guidelines and are not meant to be strictly interpreted. Actual compliance benefits will vary depending on the factors involved, e.g., the amount of workload involved. |
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| Materials Compatibility: |
No materials compatibility issues were identified.
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| Safety and Health: | Safety issues for using pulverizers concern the
operation of power equipment and the need for respiratory protection. The dust from glass crushing is a respiratory hazard.
Proper personal protective equipment including gloves, eye protection, respiratory protection, and hearing protection should be used.
Operators should be specifically trained to use the crusher. Machinery should not be used if workers are on medication. Consult the base safety office on proper protective gear and
training prior to using mechanized equipment. Consult your local industrial health specialist, your local health and safety personnel, and the appropriate MSDS prior to implementing this technology. |
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| Benefits: |
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| Disadvantages: |
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| Economic Analysis: | Application: At one to five tons/hour (includes glass pulverizer, trommel screen, and metering surge hopper); capital costs are $39,500; operating costs would include labor, electrical costs, and maintenance.
Application: At five to 10 tons/hour (includes glass pulverizer, trommel screen, and metering surge hopper); capital costs are $55,800; operating costs would include labor, electrical costs, and maintenance . Application: At 15 to 20 tons/hour (includes glass pulverizer, trommel screen, and metering surge hopper); capital costs are $73,700; operating costs would include labor, electrical costs, and maintenance. Alternate application (capital costs for glass pulverizer only): At one to five tons/hour = $16,400; at five to ten tons/hour = $26,825; at 15 to 20 tons/hour = $38,000. Assumptions:
Table 1. Annual Operating Cost Comparison for Diversion and Disposal of Glass Using a Pulverizer
Economic Analysis Summary:
Click Here
to view an Active Spreadsheet for this Economic Analysis and
Enter Your Own Values. |
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| NSN/MSDS: | None identified.
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| Approving Authority: | Appropriate authority for making process changes should always be
sought and obtained prior to procuring or implementing any of the technologies identified herein.
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| Points of Contact: | For more information |
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| Vendors: | This is not meant to be a complete
list, as there may be other manufacturers of this type of
equipment. Andela Tool & Machine, Inc. 493 State Rt. 28 Richfield Springs, NY 13439 Phone: (315) 858-0055 FAX: (315) 858-2669
American Pulverizer |
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| Related Links: |
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| Sources: | 2Lt. Marc Supinski, Dyess Air Force Base, May 1999. Andela Tool & Machine, Inc., March 1996. |