Alberta's Energy Transition: Recycling A Coal Mine Into Cash

Alberta is shifting. The legacy of oil, gas, and coal has begun to make way for more renewable energy. In 2023 alone, Alberta added over 500 megawatts of solar power capacity, making it the largest producer of solar energy in Canada.

With this growing focus on renewable energy, aging facilities like coal mines are being phased out, but that doesn’t mean they need to be left as relics of the past. Through mine reclamation, dismantling, and recycling, valuable materials can be recovered to generate revenue while reducing environmental impact.

Recently, Richmond Steel applied their 50 years of expertise to a decommissioned coal mine in Alberta, transforming an industrial liability into a source of cash.

How to Turn a Coal Mine Into Cash

tearing down mine structures

Mine reclamation isn’t just about tearing down structures; it’s a strategic process that requires careful planning, specialized equipment, and a commitment to safety and the environment.

At the Alberta site, Richmond Steel was able to recover 100% of the steel from buildings and process machinery—over 7500 metric tons. Not to mention several large transformers, motors, gearboxes, and pumps for resale. 

Navigating Structural and Environmental Challenges

The mine reclamation at the Alberta site was no ordinary teardown. Richmond Steel faced multiple challenges across a large and complex site, which included three major structures: a coal wash plant, a coal dryer plant, and an electrostatic precipitator building. Additionally, two towering stacks were brought down as part of the project. 

Each structure presented unique logistical, structural, and environmental hurdles that required Richmond Steel’s specialized expertise to overcome:

mine reclamation in Alberta

Tackling Extreme Heights

The buildings on site, some reaching 110 feet, required specialized equipment to ensure safe demolition. Richmond Steel used an ultra-high reach demolition shear, along with cables, to pull down the roof in a controlled manner. 

Protecting Adjacent Structures

An admin and lab building attached to the wash plant needed to remain standing throughout the process. To ensure its integrity, Richmond Steel collaborated with a structural engineer who identified safe cut points, allowing for the wash plant’s demolition without compromising the stability of the adjacent building.

Working Around Structural Limitations

The dryer building’s basement added another layer of complexity. Due to the risk of equipment falling through the floor slab, Richmond Steel couldn’t operate machinery directly on the floor. Instead, they used a high-reach excavator from the outside, dismantling the building from the perimeter inward to safely complete the demolition.

Managing Environmental Risks

The building’s glass-fiber insulation posed a risk of spreading debris into nearby rivers and trees. Richmond Steel addressed this by placing insulation in covered waste bins immediately upon removal and installing a snow fence around the site to capture any stray material. This approach minimized the environmental impact of the project.

Safely Lowering Heavy Machinery

Richmond Steel also faced the challenge of handling large machinery located on the upper floors. Using torch cutting, the team made strategic cuts to weaken key points, then safely lowered the equipment to the ground using cables and excavators. This careful approach eliminated risk to personnel and ensured the machinery was safely recovered.

Efficient Logistics and Cleanup

Richmond Steel began by using demo grapples to remove and bale building cladding on-site, reducing transportation costs. 

Large coal processing machines were safely dropped using strategic cuts and cables. They were then downsized with torch cutters and trucked to Richmond Steel’s Edmonton rail siding for direct shipment to a Seattle steel mill.

For the final cleanup, the team used large magnets, a skid steer with landscaping screens, and manual labor to prepare the site for land reclamation as part of the broader mine reclamation process

Conclusion 

demolition crew on site

Through comprehensive mine reclamation, Richmond Steel turned a decommissioned coal mine in Alberta into profit, recovering over 7,500 metric tons of steel and valuable equipment—all while upholding safety and environmental care.

As Alberta continues to transition to renewables, Richmond Steel continues to help clients unlock value from their legacy sites.

If you have a coal mine, oil & gas site, or other facility for demolition, contact Richmond Steel to turn your assets into cash today.

How to Mitigate Key Safety Risks: Building Demolition of Mines, Oil & Gas Facilities

Some careers are much riskier than others: stuntman, rodeo, volcano tour guide.

Unfortunately, that list of high-risk careers also includes almost every job related to the mining, quarrying, and oil and gas industry.

In 2021, the fatal injury rate for the mining industry overall was 14.2 per 100,000 full-time workers. To get perspective on that number, let’s contrast that with the fatal injury rate for full-time workers in general, which is just 3.6 per 100,000.

This high risk of injury extends to the demolition of mines and oil and gas facilities. Due to the scale, complexity, and hazardous materials involved, this type of demolition is uniquely challenging. 

Ensuring safety needs to extend beyond just protecting workers. Demolition contractors also need to consider nearby communities, environmental protection, and adherence to regulatory standards. 

The process of building demolition in these industries requires meticulous planning and execution. Always make sure your demolition contractor is experienced with the particular challenges associated with these types of demolitions.

Planning and Risk Assessment

Effective building demolition begins with thorough planning and risk assessment. This involves detailed surveys of the site to identify potential hazards such as unstable structures, toxic materials, and underground utilities. Comprehensive risk assessments help in formulating strategies to mitigate these identified risks. 

Adhering to regulatory compliance and safety standards is also crucial. There are numerous risks—not just safety concerns—if the demolition process doesn’t follow the many standards and procedures outlined by governing bodies within Canada: environmental damages, liabilities, and fines could all be consequences. 

Hazardous Material Handling

One of the most critical aspects of demolishing mines and oil & gas facilities is managing hazardous materials. 

These sites often contain asbestos, lead paints, heavy metals, and other toxic substances. Proper identification and handling of these materials are essential to prevent health risks to workers and environmental contamination. 

Professional demolition contractors with expertise in hazardous material management are essential. These substances must be safely removed and disposed of, in compliance with environmental regulations.

Large demolition equipment on site of a project

Structural Stability and Controlled Building Demolition Techniques

Assessing the structural stability of a facility before commencing building demolition is fundamental. Engineers and demolition experts must evaluate the integrity of structures to plan safe demolition sequences. 

Dust hazards are a concern. Unlike blasting, which can cause uncontrolled dust clouds, controlled demolition techniques, such as the use of cranes, excavators, and wrecking balls, help minimize risks. Additionally, tools like water cannons can be used to suppress dust during demolition. These approaches reduce airborne particles, protecting both workers and the environment.

Ensuring areas are clear when ‘dropping’' large structures is critical to avoid accidents. There should always be extra time budgeted to ensure standard operating procedures can be followed (like outlining exclusion zones and using barriers to keep unauthorized personnel away). Safety requires good time management.

Cut wires with view of the metal inside them

Environmental Impact and Metal Recycling

The environmental impact of building demolition can be significant, but adopting sustainable practices can mitigate this. 

Recycling metal and minimizing waste are vital components of environmentally responsible demolition. By recovering scrap metal from demolished structures, companies can preserve landfill waste and conserve natural resources. This practice not only benefits the environment but also provides economic advantages through the sale of recycled materials.

However, there's no value in recycling if it risks lives. Safety always comes first.

Conclusion

Mitigating safety risks during the demolition of mines and oil & gas facilities requires comprehensive planning, expert handling of hazardous materials, and adherence to controlled demolition techniques. 

After 50 years, Richmond Steel has encountered most types of hazards and challenges that come with these types of demolitions. We know how to safely remove these structures. 

If you have a building demolition project, our team is here to help. Contact us to discuss your needs and ensure a safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible demolition process.

The Valuable Metals & Materials That Can Be Recovered From Your Mine, Refinery or Power Plant

If you’re an archaeologist, you get to jump into tombs and find forgotten treasures. If you’re a geologist, you get to break open geodes and uncover hidden gems. 

And if you’re Richmond Steel, you get to salvage buildings and recover valuable metals. (We don’t always feel like Indiana Jones, but scouring a site for every hidden scrap of usable metal does come with a certain satisfaction.)

For our clients, the most interesting part is not the scrap metal that is recovered, but the potential value that is recovered. Mines, mills, power plants, and other industrial sites are often filled with valuable materials that we will purchase for recycling after the recovery process.

Ferrous & Non-Ferrous: Valuable Info About Valuable Metals

All of the metal that we recover from a site can be categorized into two categories: ferrous or non-ferrous. The distinction between them is straightforward, but their uses are quite different.

ferrous vs non ferrous material recovery

Ferrous Metals 

A ‘ferrous’ metal is one that has a significant amount of iron in its composition. It’s all about iron content. Unsurprisingly, ‘ferrous’ comes from the Latin word for iron. 

Iron based alloys—such as cast iron and steel—all fall into this category of ferrous metals.

Steel is the most popular and most widely used ferrous metal in the construction industry. It’s strong and incredibly durable. Steel accounts for most of the volume we recover from sites. It’s commonly found in everything from structural beams and columns, to steel siding, ductwork, and many other places.

Since steel doesn’t lose its physical properties during the recycling process, it can continuously be recovered, recycled, and reused for the same applications. 

ferrous metal recovery in mines

Non-Ferrous Metals

Non-ferrous metals contain no iron. They are much lighter, more malleable, and more conductive than ferrous metals. Since non-ferrous metals contain no iron, they also naturally have a higher resistance to rust and corrosion.

Magnetism is another factor. While most ferrous metals will attract magnets, non-ferrous metals are non-magnetic—making them a key component in electronic applications and wiring.

Similar to steel, non-ferrous metals can continuously be recycled because they don’t degrade or lose their chemical properties during the recycling process.

There’s a variety of non-ferrous metals that can be recovered from a site:

ferrous metals recovery in mines

Why Purchase and Recycle Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Metals 

Recycling metals just makes sense. Both ferrous and non-ferrous metals are energy-intensive to mine, but relatively efficient to recycle. 

Here’s a shocking example: the energy required to extract copper is about 100 GJ/tonne. But when it comes to recycling copper, it takes about 10% of that amount.

Ferrous metals tend to be cheaper and are typically purchased by the ton. These metals are more abundant on earth and large quantities are often salvaged from most sites. 

Non-ferrous metals can be quite rare and purchased by the pound. While aluminum is one of the most recycled materials in the world, other non-ferrous materials are more scarce. The high demand for non-ferrous metals means a strong reliance on scrap metal recycling. 

Similar to the stock market, the price for scrap metal adjusts daily with supply and demand. Pricing will mostly depend on when you sell, and how much you have to recycle.

Our On-Site Process for Identifying Valuable Materials

When we assess a site, our team takes time to locate and identify all potential sources of ferrous and non-ferrous metals. Whenever possible, we examine every corner. Our evaluation process allows us to categorize and prioritize the recovery of everything from structural beams to electrical systems, ensuring no valuable material is overlooked. 

When it comes to heavy equipment, motors, and large pieces of machinery (gearboxes, conveyors, shaker tables, etc.) our estimators will identify whether it’s more profitable for you to sell equipment as assets or as scrap. Everything from refurbishing cost, to the marketing expenses, is included in your pro forma site assessment to give you the most informed options.

Identifying Valuable Materials

Richmond Steel’s Demolition Services

We’ve been demolishing and recycling for over 50 years. Indiana Jones might not be available, but if you’re wondering what treasures are hidden on your site, Richmond Steel is here to help you recover them. Contact us to talk about your project.

Our Demolition Services team acts as a ‘traveling scrap yard’, meticulously tearing down unwanted industrial site structures and recovering all valuable materials, ensuring you receive top dollar from retiring your legacy equipment.  

Lead Paint Removal: Our Hazardous Waste Disposal & Abatement Process During Demolition

If you lived in the 1800’s, there’s a good chance your bedroom wallpaper would have contained arsenic. Those toxic ink particles and vapors would lazily float through the air, and slowly accumulate inside your body. It wouldn’t have been long before you joined the growing list of mysterious illnesses being reported.

Thankfully, we’ve learnt a lot since then about protecting our health and wellness. People no longer give whiskey to teething babies. Buildings aren’t insulated with asbestos. And lead isn’t used in makeup or paint anymore. 

Even though these practices are extinct, these hazardous materials often rear their ugly heads during industrial demolition. 

Lead paint is often discovered during the early phases of our demolition projects. Since the product wasn’t phased out until the 1970s, many power plants, mills, mines and other industrial buildings from before that period are likely to require lead abatement procedures.

It’s surprising that it took us that long to rid ourselves of lead-based paint. The CDC reports that “between 1925 and 1927, more commercial painters died from lead poisoning than all other occupational groups combined.” Even despite those risks, painters at the time still chose lead-based paint since it was considered vastly superior. 

This article explores some important information on lead-based paint, and how we at Richmond Steel Demolition Services safely remove and dispose of it.

What Are The Dangers of Lead Paint?

Most people know that lead-based paint is dangerous, but not many people are aware of all the associated risks. Consider this excerpt from the Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety:

Effects of Long-Term (Chronic) Exposure: VERY TOXIC. Can cause permanent damage to the nervous system. Symptoms may include restlessness, reduced ability to think, muscle tremors, memory loss and personality changes. In severe cases, symptoms may include muscle weakness, loss of feeling or prickly sensation in the hands, feet, arms or legs, clumsiness and paralysis. Can cause permanent damage to the kidneys. In severe cases, symptoms may include fatigue, increased or decreased urination, nausea, and vomiting. May harm the blood. In severe cases, symptoms may include paleness, fatigue, weakness, dizziness, confusion, shortness of breath and headache. 

The list of concerns doesn’t stop there. Here are just a few of the other potential risks:

While there are government set permissible limits for lead exposure, every effort should be made to minimize contact—especially for demolition crews.

Dump truck and excavator working on demolition site

Why In The World Were Lead-Based Paints Ever Used?!

After reading that laundry list of risks and health concerns, you’re probably asking: “why was lead paint ever used?” Before all of the negative side-effects became apparent, lead paint did offer several key advantages that made it popular at the time.  

Mold and Mildew Resistance: Lead has antimicrobial properties that helped prevent mold and mildew growth on painted surfaces.

Could There Be Lead Paint On My Site?

Earlier, we mentioned the phasing out of lead-based paints began in the 1970’s in Canada. This phasing-out process however took several decades. 

In Canada, it took until the 1990s for regulations to begin applying limits on lead usage in commercial and industrial paint applications. Finally, in the early 2000s, comprehensive regulations effectively banned lead in all paints (although specific industrial uses had longer timelines, but have since transitioned to safer alternatives).

Buildings constructed before the mid-nineteen seventies are more likely to have lead-based paint. With older buildings, the likelihood is often higher. 

Lead-based paints often come with some telltale signs to watch out for: 

The most reliable way to determine if your building has lead paint is through professional testing. Methods such as X-ray fluorescence (XRF) can be used, which can detect lead without disturbing surfaces. Alternatively, paint chip sampling, where small paint samples are analyzed in a lab for lead content, can also be a reliable indicator.

At Richmond Steel, our personal experience in demolitions has shown us that old mines, mills, oil & gas, and power facilities are often likely to contain lead paint.

High reach shear demolishing an industrial building

Overview of the Lead Paint Removal Process: Lead Abatement

Lead abatement during the demolition of a building involves several critical steps to ensure the safe removal and handling of lead-containing materials. 

The process begins with assessment and planning, identifying areas with lead-based paint and assessing the risk. Containment areas can be set up to prevent the spread of lead dust and debris; while workers are equipped with personal protective equipment (PPE) and follow our standard operating procedures (SOPs). 

One of our key practices is avoiding blasting techniques, which can disperse lead dust into the air. Instead, our crews meticulously tear down structures, using precision and care. The use of shears helps to carefully tear apart materials while minimizing direct contact and reducing the risk of lead exposure.

Safety Measures: Protecting Our Crews from Lead Paint Exposure

Considering the many health hazards of lead paint, Richmond Steel has strict procedures in place to ensure the health and safety of our crew during lead abatement. While on site, everyone is required to follow our comprehensive written guidelines and standard operating procedures at all times.

To further protect our crews, we equip them with Powered Air-Purifying Respirators (PAPR) when necessary, ensuring they have the highest level of respiratory protection. Regular blood monitoring is also conducted to track lead levels in our employees, allowing us to take immediate action if elevated levels are detected.

These are just some of the crucial safety measures used in maintaining a safe working environment and safeguarding crews as they handle lead-based materials.

Lead Paint, Our Hazardous Waste Disposal Process

Once materials are carefully removed, they are sent to our integrated mill, which is equipped to process lead-contaminated scrap metal.

At the mill, lead-contaminated materials are processed, and any lead paint on steel is burned and captured off during the melting process. Our facility features a 'baghouse' system with scrubbers that capture fumes and lead particulates released during melting. This advanced filtration system ensures that harmful lead particles do not enter the atmosphere, safely containing and managing the lead residue.

This thorough disposal process ensures that lead paint is managed responsibly, protecting both our workers and the environment from potential lead contamination.

Conclusion

Times have changed. Wallpaper might not contain arsenic these days, but there is still a large amount of lead paint to be found—especially in older industrial sites. 

At Richmond Steel, our lead abatement process handles this hazardous waste disposal in a way that protects people, and our environment. If you have a demolition or material recovery project that could contain lead paint, it’s important to follow the proper procedures. Talk to our demolition specialists today and learn how Richmond Steel’s Demolition Services can guide you through the process safely and efficiently.