Rohstoffwerk Weser –
LIFE SRF 4.0

Although the EU's main goal is to reduce the amount of waste generated, the total amount continues to rise. In addition, 40% of the EU's waste remains unused, which means an enormous loss of resources and energy (e.g. currently non-recyclable plastics). Since not every type of waste can be prepared for reuse, innovative concepts must be developed to avoid landfilling. As part of SRF 4.0 (solid recovered fuel), a demonstration plant with state-of-the-art technology for sorting industrial, commercial and household waste is being built for the first time. This enables maximum recovery of recyclables such as ferrous and non-ferrous metals and plastics. The remaining non-recyclable waste is processed into a sustainable and adaptable high-quality substitute fuel (RDF) that can be used by EIIs (energy-intensive industries such as the cement, lime, steel and glass industries) as an alternative fuel to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and reduce the EU's dependence on fossil fuel imports. However, in order to use SRF as a fully-fledged replacement for fossil fuels, precise and specific specifications must be met. An adjustable waste feed system with five different types of waste makes it possible to control the properties of the substitute fuel from the outset, depending on its subsequent use. A more precise separation of the input streams into four different SRF process lines is introduced to increase the recycling rates of each stream on the one hand and to ensure a constant quality of the four SRFs produced on the other. The entire production process is controlled by AI-based real-time monitoring and process management, which makes it possible to adjust and readjust the process as quickly as possible. This requires the additional use of sensor technology such as near-infrared cameras, moisture sensors, XRF and belt weighers. The waste treatment process described in this project will make a significant contribution to the circular economy, as the entire amount of incoming waste will be recycled or processed into products for thermal utilization (zero waste).