What does green recycling really mean?

Plenty is talked about companies providing green-recycling services in China but what does it amount to?

For Grieg Green, says chief executive Petter A Heier, it means:

• Arranging the issuing of an inventory of hazardous materials (IHM) or green passport if needed (for the car carrier Hoegh Trotter this happened six weeks prior to delivery)

• Approval of the yard ship-recycling plan for which the IHM is required

• Assisting in the fast and safe repatriation of crew 

• Using trained supervisors with a close relationship to the yard to oversee the entire recycling process

• Monitoring safety at all stages, including the location of firefighting equipment close to areas of hot work and the marking of hazardous areas

• Pre-cleaning of hazardous materials and removal of flammable materials such as wood, leaving bare steel 

• Cleaning of tanks

• Openings made in the hull for light, ventilation and, in the event of an emergency, evacuation

Heier says warehouses are used to dismantle sections containing asbestos and to store the material for disposal. Waste is collected by subcontractors and treated in accordance with “strict rules”. Subcontractors include Veolia, the French environmental-services group.

Each vessel takes around 3 months to recycle.

“We are working with five yards but are continuously evaluating new ones,” said Heier.

He claims that health and safety is taken even more seriously at recycling yards in China than at repair facilities, where he had experience as a superintendent for Grieg Group.

Source: TradeWinds Business Report. By Geoff Garfield. 9 March 2012