ACR Journal

August | September 2021 RECYCLING 38 Matt Davis, director of Northamptonshire-based Davis Commercial Services (DCS), explains the benefit of full circle refrigeration solutions using the best available technology. Pioneering approach to recovery and recycling of refrigeration assets Volume 7 No.5 Once refrigerated cabinets reach their end of life and require recycling, it’s vital that facilities for the treatment of this Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) are compliant with Best Available Treatment Recovery and Recycling Techniques (BATRRT). This ensures the environment is protected, waste is diverted from landfill, and hazardous waste regulations are met. Revisions to Environmental Permitting Regulations, and new air emissions targets under the Industrial Emissions Directive, were introduced in 2018, with four years given for businesses to implement changes. More stringent standards have been established, using better application of the best available technology/techniques (BAT) element of BATRRT. These changes have resulted in DCS and similar permit holders having to re-evaluate operations. Therefore, we’ve been working hard to research and acquire ground-breaking technology. Drawing on our 30 years’ expertise in commercial refrigeration and recycling processes for the retail sector, we’ve introduced bespoke processes to ensure we are ahead of the game in meeting these standards and achieving zero waste to landfill. Full circle solutions When it comes to the many challenges involved in preserving valuable commercial refrigeration assets and their subsequent, specialist recycling, it’s clear that co- ordinated project management and ground- breaking technology play a key role. All the component parts of a refrigeration system should be handled in such a way that ensures maximum environmental benefit, be that reuse or repair of component parts, recycling of metal, or recovery of energy from residual materials. That’s why here at DCS, in addition to our licensed Approved Authorised Treatment Facility (AATF) for waste electrical and electronic wastes, we’ve taken a turnkey approach to help extend the lifecycle of retail refrigeration. Our full circle commercial refrigeration services cover everything from secure warehouse storage and installation of new assets into store, to the removal of old assets for refurbishment or recycling. Our recently expanded four-acre facility, conveniently based in Northamptonshire, provides the ideal central location for nationwide estate management and rollouts for supermarkets and independent retailers. We work closely with a range of stakeholders in the refrigeration sector, including heads of retail refrigeration, engineers and facilities managers, retail consultants, project managers and building consultants to help them reach their sustainability goals. A pioneering approach To continue finding more efficient and environmentally friendly ways of enhancing the recyclability of end-of-life cabinets, in 2019 we undertook an intensive review of best available technology, which needs to be applied to waste treatment installations by 2022. We soon realised that no ‘off the shelf’ solution was available. Working with European technology providers during 2019-2020, we designed a bespoke solution, especially adapted for our commercial recycling process, to abate the release Project management – haulage New refrigeration assets ready to go into a store Matt Davis