ABB’s UK drives recycling hits 100 tonne milestone 09 June 2014

ABB has now recycled 100 tonnes of old variable speed drives (VSDs), since starting its recycling scheme in 2003.

Alan Dukinfield of certified waste management company S2S says the ratio of recycled materials has risen in that time from 90% of the drive by weight to 97% today.

Old drives (ABB's and others) are collected and recycled by S2S from 12 'bin' sites at ABB Authorised Value Providers across the UK. Larger drives or large quantities of smaller drives can be collected direct.

"Currently VSDs are not covered by the WEEE Directive. However, should this change in the future, drive users can be assured that we have the capacity to recycle all their waste drives," states Dukinfield.

Once the drive is removed for recycling, ABB issues a certificate that can be used for environmental audits in line with ISO 14001, he explains.

Dukinfield says that replacing older drives with new technology can make an immediate impact on manufacturers' carbon footprints.

Depending on size, operating a drive for just half a day could cut enough carbon emissions to fully compensate for the carbon impact of manufacturing and disposal of the drive itself.

Brian Tinham

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