Swedish Minister for Enterprise: Ragn-Sells circular fly ash plant supports Sweden’s fossil free strategy

Environmental company Ragn-Sells has begun construction of a new facility for extracting valuable resources from fly ash from waste incineration, an investment of over EUR 55 million in circular industry. The new business supports Sweden’s official ambition to become the world’s first fossil free welfare nation, according to Minister for Enterprise Ibrahim Baylan.

– I am pleased to see Ragn-Sells make this investment in order to contribute to the transition of our industry, and to our goals regarding circular economy and for Sweden to become the world’s first fossil free welfare state, Swedish Minister for Enterprise Ibrahim Baylan says.

On Tuesday, a decorated construction vehicle ceremonially dug the first scoop of dirt from the ground at the Ragn-Sells circular facility at Högbytorp, in Bro northwest of Stockholm. Within two years, the new plant will be ready to receive 150,000 metric tonnes fly ash each year. Several commercially valuable substances will be extracted from the ash, while toxic or undesired components are removed from circulation. 

– Circular solutions like this one reduce emissions, create jobs and build an entirely new Swedish export industry. We are very happy to see the Swedish government work to facilitate the transition to a circular economy, says Ragn-Sells Treatment & Detox CEO Mikael Hedström.

The new facility is based around the Ash2Salt technology, a worldwide patent developed by Ragn-Sells innovation subsidiary EasyMining. The method enables the extraction of several substances of commercial value, such as salts of potassium, sodium and calcium, as well as the removal of toxins in the ash.

Each year, Sweden produces roughly 300,000 metric tonnes of fly ash, a by-product from the treatment of exhaust from plants incinerating waste for heating and electricity. Around half is sent to a discontinued limestone quarry on the Norwegian island of Langøya near Oslo. This practise means that neither resources nor toxic substances are extracted. Additionally, the Langøya quarry will reach maximum capacity and close down within a few years.

– Depositing fly ash in old quarries is last century’s solution, but until now, incineration facilities have not had a sustainable alternative. Now they will have one, and we look forward to carrying on talks in Sweden and abroad about our circular solution, Mr. Hedström says.

The facility being built is one of the largest single investments ever within Swedish material recycling.

What the clip with Ibrahim Baylan and the cermony here.

For more information, please contact:
Mikael Hedström, CEO, Ragn-Sells Treatment & Detox, +46 70-927 27 56, mikael.hedstrom@ragnsells.com
Ragn-Sells Media Services, +46 70-927 24 00, medialinjen@ragnsells.com

Fakta: Ash2Salt
When flue gas from waste incineration is scrubbed and filtered, fly ash is formed and captured. This ash is classified as a hazardous waste due to high levels of pollutants, but also contains several desirable compounds, such as potassium and sodium. In the Ash2Salt process, the fly ash is washed and three commercial salts are extracted from the wash liquid: sodium chloride, potassium chloride and calcium chloride.

The ash residues that remain after treatment with Ash2Salt are no longer a hazardous waste, as the majority of environmental toxins have been separated. Therefore, the residues do not need to be placed on special landfills for hazardous waste, and the total volume going to landfill is reduced.

Read more here.