Evaluation and Certification Strategies for Lead–Zinc …
311
Fig. 2 Recycling rates of various metals [3]
– Collection of the materials is difficult. Especially in Europe, many scraps and other
secondary raw materials leave the continent via legal and illegal ways and cannot
be seriously implemented into recycling circuits.
– Also, during recycling processes wastes are generated, containing valuable metals.
– During processing, part of the targeted metal is transferred into a form (e.g. low
metal-containing slag, etc.) out of which no recovery is possible due to energetic
issues and as a direct consequence ultimately economic reasons.
Raw Materials in Europe
Europe nowadays faces the difficulty that even when raw materials are present, no
matter if primary or secondary ones, they often leave Europe and are not available
any more for metal production. Typical examples are automobile scrap, electronic
scrap, residues from lead and zinc industry but also copper and gold concentrates to
name just a few.
This means Europe on the one hand hardly searches for own raw materials to
become more independent but on the other hand available raw materials cannot be
kept in Europe and are treated elsewhere.
The reasons for this strange situation can be listed as follows:
– high costs for energy
– high costs for labor
311
Fig. 2 Recycling rates of various metals [3]
– Collection of the materials is difficult. Especially in Europe, many scraps and other
secondary raw materials leave the continent via legal and illegal ways and cannot
be seriously implemented into recycling circuits.
– Also, during recycling processes wastes are generated, containing valuable metals.
– During processing, part of the targeted metal is transferred into a form (e.g. low
metal-containing slag, etc.) out of which no recovery is possible due to energetic
issues and as a direct consequence ultimately economic reasons.
Raw Materials in Europe
Europe nowadays faces the difficulty that even when raw materials are present, no
matter if primary or secondary ones, they often leave Europe and are not available
any more for metal production. Typical examples are automobile scrap, electronic
scrap, residues from lead and zinc industry but also copper and gold concentrates to
name just a few.
This means Europe on the one hand hardly searches for own raw materials to
become more independent but on the other hand available raw materials cannot be
kept in Europe and are treated elsewhere.
The reasons for this strange situation can be listed as follows:
– high costs for energy
– high costs for labor