Electronic waste

Recovered copper in electronic scrap (old) is small in comparison representing about 14,000 t/yr of copper from 68,000 t/yr of waste (25). Electronic scrap accounts for iron (27,000 t), tin (14,000 t), nickel, lead, and aluminum (6,800 t each), and zinc (3,500 t). Precious metal value, which is the primary economic reason for the reclamation of electronic waste, accounts for 345 t of gold, twice that in silver, and some palladium. 

Electrical and electronic waste can be successfully recovered by pyrolysis following a suitable amount of separation. It has been demonstrated that by selecting the correct processing parameters, any halogenated hydrocarbons present are satisfactorily destroyed. Oil and gas from the pyrolysis are best used to heat the pyrolysis kiln. The metal containing pyrolysis coke can be treated in a secondary copper smelter without need for further processing. 

Metal derivatives (Ti, Zn, Cd, Sn, Sb, Pb) and bromine from additives in recycled thermoplasts from consumer electronic waste were determined by dissolving the samples in an organic solvent, followed by TXRF analysis [56], The procedure proved considerably less time-consuming than conventional digestion of the polymer matrix. Results were validated independently by INAA. 

Handling, Management, and Disposal of Electrical and Electronic Wastes ... 

Electronic Wastes Containing Particularly Hazardous Substances. 1216... 

Management and Disposal of a Specific Electronic Waste CRTs. 1223... 

The disposal of electrical and electronic wastes around the world has not been very satisfactory. The rapid evolution of electrical, electronic, information, and communication technologies leads to an increased production of such wastes in the future. It is our ideal objective that we do not dispose of... 

HANDLING, MANAGEMENT, AND DISPOSAL OF ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC WASTES THE SWITZERLAND EXPERIENCE... 

Fluorescent lamps, fluorescent lamp ballasts, batteries, pesticides, mercury-containing thermostats, and other mercury-containing equipment are being singled out for special consideration. Specifically, these electrical and electronic wastes outfall into a regulated category called universal wastes in the United States. 

By a strict definition, these electrical and electronic wastes are hazardous. Fluorescent lamps contain mercury, and almost all fluorescents fail the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) toxicity test for hazardous wastes. Fluorescent lamp ballasts manufactured in the mid-1980s contain polychorinated biphenyls (PCBs), a carcinogen most of these ballasts are still in service. Batteries can contain any of a number of hazardous materials, including cadmium (nickel-cadmium... 

All electrical and electronic wastes may be found to harbor components containing particularly hazardous substances. It is essential that these be removed (stripping of hazardous materials). Below are some examples of such components. Batteries and accumulators notably include the following ... 

Stripping of electrical and electronic waste appliances must be carried out properly. During the processing of waste appliances (e.g., in shredders), it is essential to avoid that components highly contaminated with hazardous substances end up in fractions that are intended for recycling. It is furthermore necessary to ensure that the disposal of treatment residues (e.g., shredder residues) is not impeded by the presence of hazardous substances. As a rule, components containing particularly hazardous substances are to be removed manually. Future disposal processes, such as pyrolysis, may allow recycling of appliances without prior removal of hazardous substances, in which case it will be possible to do without the disassembly of hazardous components.411... 

General Management and Disposal of Electronic Waste Appliances... 

All appliances and modules consisting mainly of electronic components fall under the category of electronic waste appliances. This group comprises the following categories entertainment electronics, office, information, and communication appliances, and electronic components of appliances. 

The objectives for disposal of electronic waste appliances are (a) stripping of hazardous substances (b) reduction of pollutant and metal contents in the plastic fraction, thus permitting recycling or incineration in waste incineration plants or cement works (c) recovery of nonferrous metals and (d) attainment of commercially recyclable scrap quality. 

The requirements for proper disposal of electronic waste appliances are as follows (a) appliances may be broken up (shredded) only if the components containing particularly hazardous substances have previously been removed and (b) since in disposing of electronic appliances the main emphasis is on the recovery of nonferrous metals, nonstripped appliances must not be shredded together with scrap cars. As a rule, electronic appliances are dismantled manually to achieve effective separation of the components containing hazardous substances. 

Typical examples of the disposal of electronic waste appliances include the following steps ... 

Wang, L.K., Recycling and disposal of electrical and electronic wastes, Proceedings of the 2004 Modem Engineering and Technology Seminar, Taipei, Taiwan, November 2004. 

On the other hand, in part II of this volume, a set of case studies are introduced. The application of the selected methodologies inside each one of the foresaid disciplines (e.g., risk assessment, life cycle assessment) to specific cases and countries is presented here. The results of such application are discussed as well as their reliability. Toxicological studies in Italy, risk assessment of electronic waste in China, or disposal of bearing lamps in India are some examples of selected scenarios. 

In the past, product-related standards in the European waste law were rare. This changed with the triumphal success of everyday electronic gadgets and the associated increase in e-scrap. The EC Directive 2002/96/EC - better known as the WEEE directive - aimed to combat the increasing amount of e-waste from electrical and electronic devices [8]. Goal is the avoidance, reduction, and environment-friendly disposal of increasing amounts of electronic waste through extended producer responsibility. This goal has been hindered by a number of pollutants that are included in the devices (RISKCYCLE). 

Barba-Gutierrez Y, Adenso-Diaz B, Hopp M (2008) An analysis of some environmental consequences of European electrical and electronic waste regulation. Resour Conserv Recycl 52 481M95... 

USEPA (2007) Fact sheet management of electronic waste in the United States. US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). http //www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/materials/ecycling/ docs/fact7-08.pdf. Accessed 12 July 2011... 

Chi X, Streicher-Porte M, Wang MYL, Reuter MA (2011) Informal electronic waste recycling a sector review with special focus on China. Waste Manag 31 731-742... 

Leung AOW, Luksemburg WJ, Wong AS, Wong MH (2007) Spatial distribution of polybrominated diphenyl ethers and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzo furans in soil and combusted residue at Guiyu, an electronic waste recycling site in southeast China. Environ Sci Technol 41 2730-2737... 

Wong MH, Wu SC, Deng WJ, Yu XZ, Luo Q, Leung AOW et al (2007) Export of toxic chemicals - a review of the case of uncontrolled electronic waste recycling. Environ Pollut 149 131-140... 

Li Y, Huo X, Liu J, Peng L, Li W, Xu X (2010) Assessment of cadmium exposure for neonates in Guiyu, an electronic waste pollution site of China. Environ Monit Assess 177 343-351... 

Kurian J (2007) Electronic waste management in India - issues and strategies. In Eleventh International Waste Management and Landfill Symposium, Calgari, Italy, 1-5 Oct 2007... 

Keywords China, Electronic waste (e-waste), Human exposure, Mass emission, Pollutant... 

The main aims of this chapter are to provide estimates for the amounts of pollutants emitted from processed electronic waste (e-waste) and assess the magnitudes of human exposure to these pollutants. Specifically in this chapter, e-waste is defined as the sum of discarded personal computers, electronic/electrical equipment, electronic entertainment devices, cell phones, television sets, and refrigerators. In another word, e-waste explicitly refers to electronics at their end of life cycle and disposed by end users rather than surplus electronics (brand new products). In addition, e-waste also does not include reusable (e.g., repairable electronics or second hand electronics) and secondary scraps (e.g., noble metals, plastics, and rubbers). 

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