Our stormwater treatment solutions for the recycling industry
In the waste recycling and recovery sector, effective stormwater management is a major concern. Due to the nature of the operations involved in materials recycling, stormwater can be contaminated by various pollutants such as hydrocarbons, heavy metals and chemicals.
If left untreated, this water can have a negative impact on the quality of soil, groundwater and watercourses. What’s more, the accumulation of stormwater can lead to overflows and flooding, and damage infrastructure and recycling equipment.
Stormwater treatment and control systems are crucial to minimizing environmental impact, ensuring regulatory compliance and personal safety.
What are the main issues involved in treating stormwater in the recycling industry?
Controlling flows and volumes, and treating stormwater in the recycling and waste recovery industry are complex challenges requiring solutions tailored to each situation. Key issues include :
- Rainwater collection and storage: rainwater runoff from recycling sites is collected and buffered in stormwater basins for later treatment or reuse.
- Stormwater regulation: this involves controlling the discharge rate and volume of stormwater, in order to prevent the risk of overflow and intercept any accidental spill.
- Stormwater treatment: this involves filtering and depolluting stormwater to bring it into compliance with discharge or reuse standards. Treatment can be carried out using physical, chemical or biological processes, depending on the type and level of pollution in the stormwater.
The challenges of stormwater treatment and control in the recycling industry are manifold:
- Environmental issues: reducing the impact of runoff on natural environments, preserving biodiversity and helping to combat climate change.
- Economic stakes: the aim is to optimize stormwater management costs, enhance the value of water resources and boost the competitiveness of recycling companies.
- Social issues: protecting the health and safety of workers and local residents, complying with regulations and stakeholder expectations, and promoting a responsible and sustainable image of recycling activities.
What regulations apply to stormwater management in the recycling industry?
The European Water Framework Directive (WFD) of October 23, 2000 set an obligation to achieve good status for water bodies and to ensure that their current status remains unchanged. In France, these objectives are set out in the Schémas Directeurs d’Aménagement et de Gestion des Eaux (SDAGE).
But it was the Law on Water and Aquatic Environments (LEMA) no. 2006-1772 of December 30, 2006 that updated the overall framework defined by the laws of 1964 and 1992, in order to meet the new challenges of European water policy and in particular the WFD of October 2000, and in particular Article 20 of this law, which sets out guidelines that directly or indirectly concern stormwater.
Moreover, it is now recognized that discharges into the aquatic environment during wet weather can also cause temporary or long-term environmental degradation. Raintime pollution is a significant source of micropollutants (zinc, copper, ammonium, pesticides, etc.) to aquatic environments, which can compromise the use of water resources (bathing areas, leisure activities, fishing).
Recycling and waste recovery companies are subject to :
- prefectoral decrees specific to each project, imposing constraints on quantity (flow) and quality.
- A l’arrêté du 2 février 1998, modifié par l’arrêté du 28 février 2022, relatif aux prélèvements et à la consommation d’eau ainsi que aux émissions de toute nature des installations classées pour la protection de l’environnement soumises à autorisation, will also apply.
Saint Dizier Environnement’s solutions
Our product range covers all the needs of recycling facilities (metal, ELV, construction products, packaging…) and landfill sites…
- Sludge traps and hydrocarbon separators to intercept pollution at source
- Rainwater decanters and depolluters
- Rainwater treatment units
- Physico-chemical treatment plants
- Isolation valves
- Storage of treated water for on-site reuse
Water treatment plant for a metal recycling and recovery site using coagulation, flocculation and decantation.
Water treatment plant for recycling and recovery of sorted glass by coagulation, flocculation and decantation
Water treatment plant for a cardboard and metal recycling and recovery site using advanced decantation and filtration.
We can also offer you several services:
- Audit your installation
- Dimensioning study, as illustrated below
- Installation and commissioning of equipment
- Design and manufacture customized solutions to meet your exact requirements
- Operating assistance (contracts with monitoring, control and follow-up frequencies)
Laboratory study of treatability, enabling precise sizing of the treatment plant to meet discharge targets
Consult our product ranges or contact us for a customized proposal.