DownMet

The project, funded by the German Federal Environmental Agency, is focusing on increasing resource efficiency in the metal industry with regard to the substitution of primary raw materials by reducing downcycling. The focus here is on investigating the possibilities of alloy-specific recycling of steel, aluminium, copper and zinc scrap. Specifically, the suitability of the different sorting methods for mixed shredder waste will be investigated in experiments with different analytical measuring methods such as sensor techniques. The experiments will help to identify the existing analytical and technical limits of alloying and refining metallurgy.

Based on the results of the analysis, recommendations will be developed for better exploitation of previously unused, high-grade metal potentials. The assessment criteria include the savings potential in raw materials and greenhouse gas emissions as well as the cost structure for the production of alloys from recycled materials. The Wuppertal Institute is mainly responsible for the ecological assessment of the status quo of current downcycling and the potential savings through improved sorting.