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RCO Recycling Center Ostschweiz AG

By: Reiner Knittel, Messer Schweiz

Recycling of construction materials with CO₂ wastewater neutralization

Switzerland | RCO Recycling Center Ostschweiz in Zuzwil uses a wet-mechanical process to reprocess mineral-based construction materials. “To provide the required wash water, we add rainwater to a recirculation system,” explains Process Engineering Manager Marco Weber. “The excess surface water as well as the process water are neutralized using CO₂ and a neutralization system from Messer. This reduces our fresh water consumption to the

absolute minimum.” RCO is operated jointly by the companies Holcim Kies und Beton and Zürcher Kies und Transport. It can process about 160,000 metric tons of material per year, including mixed and concrete demolition waste, railway ballast as well as clean and contaminated excavation materials. In the past, such material was mainly disposed of in landfills: now after recycling, it is available for use in high-quality construction products.

Switzerland | RCO Recycling Center Ostschweiz in Zuzwil uses a wet-mechanical process to reprocess mineral-based construction materials. “To provide the required wash water, we add rainwater to a recirculation system,” explains Process Engineering Manager Marco Weber. “The excess surface water as well as the process water are neutralized using CO₂ and a neutralization system from Messer. This reduces our fresh water consumption to the absolute minimum.” RCO is operated jointly by the companies Holcim Kies und Beton and Zürcher Kies und Transport. It can process about 160,000 metric tons of material per year, including mixed and concrete demolition waste, railway ballast as well as clean and contaminated excavation materials. In the past, such material was mainly disposed of in landfills: now after recycling, it is available for use in high-quality construction products.

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