Can a wind turbine actually be recycled?

Absolutely. About 85 to 90 percent of a wind turbine is fully recyclable. Metals such as steel, copper, and aluminum are easily reused. Concrete is also given a second life. Only the composite blades required special solutions, but those are now available.

What's so difficult about recycling wind turbine blades?

Wind turbine blades are made of composite materials: fiberglass or carbon fiber embedded in resin. Once cured, this combination is difficult to separate. Traditional recycling methods do not work. That is why new techniques have been developed, such as pyrolysis and mechanical processing into granules.

What are some common misconceptions about recycling wind turbines?

Many people think that wind turbines end up in landfills. That’s no longer true. In Europe, that’s been prohibited for years. Another misconception is that the blades can’t be recycled. Although it’s challenging, there are now effective solutions. People also think that recycling is expensive, but thanks to the scrap value, you can often actually make a profit from it.

How does Krommenhoek Metals help recycle wind turbines?

We handle the entire decommissioning process. That includes dismantling, transporting, and processing the materials into reusable streams. You don’t have to arrange anything yourself. We have our own facilities in Rotterdam with dock access and heavy-duty cranes. Plus, we’ll buy your old wind turbine, so you’ll receive compensation instead of paying for removal.

Recycling Wind Turbines

What parts of a wind turbine can we recycle?

Most of a wind turbine consists of valuable metal. The tower, generator housing, and various other components contain steel, cast iron, copper, and aluminum. These metals are ideal for recycling. We process them into raw materials for new products. So there’s no waste.

The concrete foundation also gets a second life. The concrete is crushed and used in road construction. Even the rotor blades—traditionally the most difficult component to recycle—find a good use with us. Modern techniques make it possible to process composites through pyrolysis or co-processing in cement plants. About 85 to 90 percent of your entire turbine is thus reused.

Request a Quote

A magnificent, expansive cinematic landscape

This is how we work

We handle everything from our dismantling dock in Rotterdam. Our team will safely dismantle your old wind turbine. We transport all the parts to our facility, which is directly accessible via the North Sea. This makes a significant difference in terms of logistics.

We cut the steel parts to size using heavy-duty hydraulic shears. We carefully separate cables, wiring, and composites. Hazardous liquids such as oil are disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner. We then sort all materials for further processing. Metals are sent to smelters, and blades are sent to specialized processing companies.

The best news? As a client, this often costs you little to nothing. We pay you a fee based on the value of the scrap. Sometimes, dismantling actually earns you money instead of costing you. Transparent pricing is a given for us.

Why You Should Recycle a Wind Turbine

Simply dumping waste has been prohibited in Europe for years. The regulations are strict—and rightly so. Wind turbine parts belong in the circular economy, not in a landfill. Companies that have their turbines recycled comply with all legal requirements and demonstrate social responsibility.

Reputation also plays a role. You don’t want to be the company that leaves behind mountains of waste. Recycling simply goes hand in hand with renewable energy. Moreover, reusing materials conserves raw materials and energy. Every metric ton of recycled steel or copper prevents mining elsewhere. That makes a significant difference in CO₂ emissions.

This is how we can recycle wind turbine blades

Wind turbine blades are the most challenging part. Composite materials are difficult to separate. That’s why we work with specialized companies that are capable of handling this.

Pyrolysis is a promising technique. In this process, the blades are heated in the absence of oxygen. The resin breaks down, leaving behind the fibers. Those fibers can be reused to make new wind turbine blades. Any loss of quality? Hardly any.

Another option is co-processing. Shredded fiber pieces serve as a filler in cement or concrete. Practical and effective. For products that deserve a longer lifespan, we explore whether upcycling is possible. Think of playground equipment, noise barriers, or art projects. Anything is better than ending up in a landfill.

Have your wind turbine recycled by Krommenhoek Metals

We’ve been doing this work for over 90 years. We started out primarily with scrap and metal recycling, and now we also handle complex demolition projects such as wind turbines and offshore structures. With us, you get a complete, hassle-free service. We take care of everything from start to finish, including permits, transportation, and paperwork.

Our team knows exactly how to safely dismantle a wind turbine. We have the equipment and the facility to process large components. And as mentioned, you’ll get the best deal because we buy your old turbine at market-rate scrap prices. Curious about what your wind turbine is worth? Contact us and we’ll calculate it for you.

FAQ: About Wind Turbine Recycling

Do you have another question?

Can't find your question here? Our staff will be happy to assist you with personalized advice on selling copper, pricing, or our container service. You'll receive a clear answer shortly.

+31 (0) 10 41 52 815

info@kh-metals.nl

: Absolutely. About 85 to 90 percent of a wind turbine is fully recyclable. Metals such as steel, copper, and aluminum are easily reused. Concrete is also given a second life. Only the composite blades required special solutions, but those are now available.
: Wind turbine blades are made of composite materials: fiberglass or carbon fiber embedded in resin. Once cured, this combination is difficult to separate. Traditional recycling methods do not work. That is why new techniques have been developed, such as pyrolysis and mechanical processing into granules.
: Many people think that wind turbines end up in landfills. That’s no longer true. In Europe, that’s been prohibited for years. Another misconception is that the blades can’t be recycled. Although it’s challenging, there are now effective solutions. People also think that recycling is expensive, but thanks to the scrap value, you can often actually make a profit from it.
: We handle the entire decommissioning process. That includes dismantling, transporting, and processing the materials into reusable streams. You don’t have to arrange anything yourself. We have our own facilities in Rotterdam with dock access and heavy-duty cranes. Plus, we’ll buy your old wind turbine, so you’ll receive compensation instead of paying for removal.