The challenge of recycling fibreglass
The problem lies in the very durability of the material – GFRP was designed to last, so that industry has struggled to separate it back into reusable components. Shredding or burning have thus been the only available options for disposing of the hulls of boats which have reached the end of their useful life.
Our Solution
Our Technology
Proprietary Pyrolysis Technique
Pyrolysis is a process whereby a material is heated in an oxygen free environment. When GFRP, such as that found in a boat hull, is introduced into a pyrolysis reactor, the output is pyrolysis oil and glass fibre.
Composite Recycling has developed a proprietary pyrolysis technology and process that reclaims the fibres in a way that preserves them largely intact, maintaining most of their structural and functional properties and, therefore, their reusability. Furthermore, the process employed is low-emission and energy efficient.
Proprietary Post-treatment Process
After using pyrolysis to recover the fibres, Composite Recycling then applies a proprietary post-treatment process such that the reclaimed fibres maintain much of their original appearance and structural integrity.
Importantly, the parameters and output specifications of the pyrolysis and post-treatment processes can be customized, in order to optimize the properties (strength, flexibility, breakpoint, etc.) requested by clients.
The result is high-quality reclaimed fibres calibrated to meet the needs of composite manufacturers so that they can easily recombine them with new resin to make new fibreglass – hence, closing the loop.
Valorization of Reclaimed Glass Fibre
Composite Recycling has developed a post treatment process which cleans the reclaimed glass fibres while maintaining the structural integrity such that they can be sold like virgin glass fibre to make new composite materials. This significantly increases the resale value and therefore the revenue from recycling composite materials like boat hulls or wind turbine blades.
A Containerized Fleet of Recycling Units
Composite Recycling will deploy small pyrolysis reactors that fit in 20” containers and can be easily dispatched for treatment of fibreglass waste on-site. This “containerized fleet” approach has many benefits:
- Avoids large CAPEX investment required for larger units in a central processing location
- Eliminates the costs, complex logistics and carbon emissions of transporting bulky discarded waste materials to a central facility
- Optimises usage of the reactors by enabling placement adjacent to large stockpiles of waste materials, such as at deconstruction sites
- Enables fast and easy temporary deployments as need arises, such as to coastal areas after a hurricane
What Makes Us Different?
With our proprietary pyrolysis and post-treatment processes, plus our unique operational model, Composite Recycling is the first and only player to date to be able to offer a sustainable and profitable model for the recycling of GFRP.
Our Products
Pyrolysis Oil
Clean Recycled Glass Fibre
Turn-key Recycling Solutions
Do you own a boat that has reached the end of its useful life?
It’s time to recycle it.
APER (l’Association pour la Plaisance Eco-Responsable) allows boat owners in France to deconstruct their vessels while respecting the environment and current regulations. CR is working together with APER to provide a complete recycling solution for watercraft made of fibreglass.