True Recycling of Paste & Wipes
Solder contaminated trash such as under stencil wipes, cleaning rags, gloves, finger cots, and empty and expired solder paste containers, collectively known as Paste & Wipes, are significantly more problematic to recycle than solder dross. While solder dross is a by-product, and therefore exempt from Hazardous Waste Regulations in most states, Paste & Wipes are classified by the EPA as Characteristic Spent Materials which, in all but two states, must be transported and stored as Hazardous Wastes. In the typical recycling process, the organic materials that comprise most of the weight are burned to concentrate the solder metals and allow them to be recovered in the smelting process. This combustion generates CO2, a potent greenhouse gas that is subsequently emitted into the atmosphere during the recycling process as it exists today. The only components of Paste & Wipes that have truly been recycled were the metallic elements contained in these materials.
Conescus core values would not allow us to simply settle for a process that is inherently wasteful and inefficient, and is proud to announce that our tireless research in this regard has finally come to fruition. We have developed and implemented a completely revolutionary process that truly recycles both the recoverable metallic components and the organic material as well by using them to produce a substitute for coke, a coal derivative used as a critical reducing agent in the smelting process. In other words, Conecsus has completely redefined the recycling of Paste & Wipes by being the only company that truly recycles 100% of our customer’s solder related materials.
Using this class of material to produce a substitute for coke means that the materials sent to Conecsus are no longer treated as hazardous wastes, but instead are classified as raw materials for a product. This means that they are no longer treated as a solid or hazardous waste, and therefore, only a Bill of Lading is required to ship these materials to Conecsus. A hazardous waste manifest is not required, and furthermore, since the Paste & Wipes are no longer considered wastes when shipped to Conecsus, annual waste summary reporting on them is no longer required. This, in effect, has a net benefit on both the environment and on your company, making you a “greener” company not only on paper, but in reality. The Conecsus process results in a substantial reduction in CO2 and particulate emissions, which is a tremendous achievement for Conecsus, our clients and, most importantly, the environment.
