The final stage of SEG's refrigerator and freezer demanufacturing system is concerned with the reprocessing of individual material flows from Step 2 and their marketing and resale.

Valuable revenue is earned through the sale of shredded aluminium and ferrous waste. A further valuable secondary raw material is ground polystyrene which is derived from the appliances' interior liners. The CFC-free polyurethane foam that acted as insulation material is also 'rejuvenated' and sold as SEG's oil and chemical binder ÖKO-Pur.

Cabling is sent for specialist recycling, compressors are either shredded or re-used and flat glass finds use as a secondary raw material in the glass-making industry, thereby helping to save valuable resources. Even the mercury from the mercury switches is recovered.

A very small fraction of the shredded material (mixed plastics, rubber parts, cable waste, wood, etc.) cannot be usefully reprocessed and is used for energy recovery.

The only components that are disposed of in landfill sites are capacitors. The ozone-depleting CFCs are dissociated in a high-temperature 'cracking' unit, generating hydrochloric and hydrofluoric acids. The refrigerant oil recovered from the appliances is sufficiently pure for the oil to be recycled.

With its long-standing experience in recycling obsolete refrigerators and freezers, SEG is an expert in managing the material flows from the appliance demanufacturing process. The targeted marketing and sale of high-quality secondary raw materials is a very useful means of offsetting appliance recycling costs. For more information click here: secondary raw materials.

• Interested in learning more about SEG's appliance demanufacturing services? Contact SEG now for further information and assistance.