Waste characterization in steel casting and recycling opportunities in Europe

The wastes coming from a steel foundry located in Italy, producing about 600,000 t/y of steel slabs, are considered in this work. The plant produces about 143,000 t/y of wastes, made of furnace and ladle slags (84%), pelletized dust (8%) and oxidised shaving (8%). The waste materials have been characterised by means of particle-size and chemical analyses, and some reuse/recycle possibilities are considered. The recycle as inert material of the slags was evaluated by means of several leaching tests according to the Italian (UNI10802 test, equivalent to EN 12457/2 test), French (AFNOR X31-210 test), Danish and European Community (EN 12457/4 test) regulations. The requirements of the above mentioned regulations were compared and discussed. The possibility of landfilling the materials as inert or not dangerous wastes according to Italian Law (DM 3/8/2005) and European Community regulation (Decision of European Community Council N°2003/33) was also considered.