Red mud is a caustic waste that is difficult to treat because existing purification processes are complicated, costly, and ineffective. Red mud often remains stored in situ, which increases the risk of accidental spills. To meet this environmental and complex challenge facing the aluminum industry, Orbite and Veolia Environmental Services endeavour to bring the solution to treat the red mud stockpiled around the world in an economically and socially sustainable manner. The Orbite process is the only proven and commercially viable ecofriendly technology for treating Bayer process tailings; it recovers their entire commercial value and can extend the lifespan of Bayer plants.
Orbite is a Canadian company whose unique green technologies are setting new standards for the aluminum industry. These technologies allow for the extraction of smelter-grade alumina and high-purity alumina, as well as other products such as rare earths and rare metals, from various feedstocks including aluminous clay and bauxite, all without producing red mud.
Veolia Environmental Services is the only worldwide integrated operator covering the entire value chain of waste management (collection, sanitation, treatment and recovery).
"Demand for alumina continues to grow on a global scale, and worldwide stocks of untreated red mud are estimated at nearly three billion tonnes. By partnering together, Orbite and Veolia become the global leader in the treatment and recycling of red mud, which is one of the main environmental challenges for the aluminum industry."
Richard Boudreault
President and CEO of Orbite
"Our unmatched presence in the waste value chain serves a long-term vision that drives us to build sustainable partnerships such as the one drawn up with Orbite. They are the key to best mining practice and guaranteeing supply that Veolia Environmental Services can bring to meet rising industry demand which is a major environmental challenge."
Pascal Decary
Senior Executive Vice-President of Veolia Environmental Services
OrbiteAluminae Inc.
OrbiteAluminae Inc. is a Canadian company whose unique green technologies allow the extraction of alumina and other high-value products, such as rare earths and rare metals, from various sources, such as aluminous clay, kaolin, nepheline, and bauxite, all without generating the caustic waste associated with the Bayer process commonly known as "red mud." These technologies also permit the remediation and reclamation of industrial waste, including fly ash from coal combustion and red mud.
Orbite is currently commissioning its commercial high-purity alumina production plant in Cap-Chat, Quebec. The Company also holds fourteen families of intellectual property rights worldwide for its unique alumina extraction process.
Veolia Environmental Services
Veolia Environmental Services is the global benchmark for waste management and resource recovery, and the only operator across all segments of the waste management business (solid, liquid, non-hazardous and hazardous waste). The company contributes to a better environment by providing its municipal and industrial clients with innovative, efficient waste management services that span waste collection, pipe system management, and waste treatment, recovery and recycling solutions. Veolia Environmental Services generated 2011 revenue of 9.7 billion euros.
> Veolia Environmental Services website
Contacts
Veolia Environmental Services:
Marie-Claire Camus
Tel.: + 33 (0)1 71 75 06 08
[email protected]
Stéphane Galfré
Tel.: + 33 (0)1 71 75 19 27
[email protected]
Pascal Decary
Tel.: + 33 (0)1 46 69 32 00
[email protected]
OrbiteAluminae Inc.:
Richard Boudreault
Tel.: +1 514 744 6264
[email protected]