INASHCO BV
Municipal waste is usually treated in waste incineration plants to reduce the volume and to produce energy as a last application of the raw materials. The ashes from the burning process are known as incinerator slag or bottom ash. The bottom ash is heavily contaminated with the metals originating from household waste.
In the European Union about 20 million tonnes of bottom ash are produced annually. Until now, this ash is landfilled or used as low grade construction material for e.g. highways. Leaching of metal particles is considered to be a serious environmental risk calling for expensive preventive measures. Moreover, the small metal and mineral particles are lost for reuse, as conventional separation technologies are not able to separate particles smaller than 10 mm.
