DP Electronic Recycling
Elkhorn
www.dpecycle.com
Industry: Technology, recycling
Innovation: Patent pending process for recycling toxic CRT glass for reuse
More than 660 million pounds of CRT glass from old television and computer screens and monitors have been stockpiled in the United States because there is no effective way to safely and economically dispose of such waste. Until now.
Dale Helgeson, chief executive officer of Elkhorn-based DP Electronic Recycling teamed up with Dr. Ian Pegg at Catholic University of America in Washington D.C. to develop a process of taking the CRT glass from television and computer monitors and cleanly and efficiently turn it into a ceramic product that can be resold.
The Cathode Ray Tubes (CRT) found in older model television screens and computer monitors contains lead, Helgeson said.
“Traditionally a process known as ‘lead smelting’ is used to breakdown the CRT and remove the lead, but there is only one lead smelting facility in the United States, and even through that process some pollutants can be released in to the air,” Helgeson said.
The new process takes the CRT glass, crushes it in an encapsulated space, and then combines it with other materials before forming into a formed tile. Once the material is pressed, it is fired in a high-temperature kiln which fuses all the materials into a hard crystal-like tile that is stronger and more durable than traditional ceramic tile, he said.
“Once we get our new facility up and running the process will be completely automated,” Helgeson said. “We’re in the final stages of testing with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources just to fully validate that the process is safe.”
The amount of CRT glass in storage continues to grow every day.
“From a growth standpoint, we’ll be able to take the ceramic product produced from the CRT glass and sell that back to distributors as floor tiles,” Helgeson said. “We’ll also be able to offer another option for other recyclers.”
The company is currently seeking financing to build a new manufacturing and process facility in Whitewater. Helgeson has plans to open more facilities and plants around the country over the next few years.
