The transfer of a second consignment of aluminium dross from Win Process Company’s recycling facility in Rayong, which caught fire on April 22, to a recycling and aluminium plant in Phanat Nikhom district of Chon Buri was disrupted on Sunday when local villagers refused to allow the cargo to be unloaded.
The protest forced Win Process and officials from the Industrial Works Department to halt the relocation of approximately 7,000 tonnes of aluminium dross to a Metalcom Company recycling plant in Chon Buri.
The first consignment of 108 tonnes was successfully relocated last Saturday without incident.
Komen Phiewpoom, an official at the Industrial Works Department in Rayong, stated yesterday that the further relocation of the material has been paused, pending negotiations between Chon Buri’s governor and representatives of the protesters.
The talks are expected to resume this afternoon, with participation from members of the House Land Affairs Committee and officials from the Industrial Works Department in Chon Buri and Rayong.
Aluminium dross can be used as a filler in concrete to provide higher flexural and compressive strength compared to pure cement. It can also be utilized in steel plants as a desulphurisation and deoxidising agent in refining furnaces.
The benefits of aluminium dross recycling include reduced landfill use, decreased fluoride emissions, and conservation of natural resources. Additionally, aluminium dross can be recycled multiple times.
