GREENING ELECTRONICS Lessons from a Danish study on WEEE

VERSITET

Senior Researcher Marianne Thomsen & Post.Doc. Massimo PizzolDepartment of Environmental ScienceFaculty of Technology and ScienceAarhus University

AARHUSUNIVERSITET

29. SEPTEMBER 2011

UNI

GREENING ELECTRONICSLessons from a Danish study on WEEE

AARHUSUNIVERSITET

GREENING ELECTRONICSMARIANNE THOMSEN

29. SEPTEMBER 2011

WEEE -REGULATIONWaste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) ›fastest growing waste fraction in EU (UNEP 2009) ›classified as hazardous waste

›EU Directive 2002/96/EC (WEEE Directive)› collection, recycling and recovery targets ›EU Directive 2002/95/EC (RoHS Directive) › restriction of six HS in EEE: lead, mercury, cadmium,

hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBB), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)

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29. SEPTEMBER 2011

ACTORS WITHIN THE DANISH WEEE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

› Extended producer responsibility

› DPA System competent authority (WEEE regulation, registration and reporting)

› Collective schemes

› Business ≠Consumer products

› Collection/pre-processing/disposal

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29. SEPTEMBER 2011

WEEE STATISTICS›Marketed EEE ›Collected WEEE (@municipal collection

sites)

›Treated WEEE

›UNBALANCE due to:› no reporting of business products (e.g. if delivered directly to pre-processing facility)

› use and stockpiling (Quantity???)› collected with MSW (Quantity???)

4

Household Industry Total EEE marketed 2006* 123,771 29,282 153,053 2007 130,944 34,878 165,821 2008 125,801 29,151 154,952 2009 118,189 28,459 146,649 EEE collected 2006* 51,532 1,360 52,893 2007 77,533 1,260 78,793 2008 75,082 1,335 76,417 2009 82,642 1,626 84,268 WEEE treated (inside and outside DK) 2006* 47,468 2007 77,436 2008 76,410 2009 83,393

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29. SEPTEMBER 2011

MATERIAL FLOW ANALYSIS (MFA) DANISH PRE-PROCESSING FACILITY›Averhoff, Aarhus (Elretur collective scheme) ›16000 tons/y treated for WEEE cat.2- Small household appliances4 - Consumer equipment

5

I ron fraction

Size sortingOverbelt magnet

Eddy current

separation

Chain shredderOverbelt magnet

Overbelt magnet

Drum magnet

Suction

Mul

ticy

clon

e

Cycl

one

Jet

filte

r

Manual ironcontrol station

Unloading area

Cabi

n –

air

pres

sure

pos

sibl

e

Man

ual s

orti

ng s

tati

ons

Pre-

sort

ing

stat

ions

Clean air

<10x10cm

>10x10cm

Auto

mat

ic s

orti

ng

Rest fraction

Pre-sorted

fractions

Sorted fractions

Rest fraction

WEEE to shredder

Sorted fractions

Reject

I ron fraction

›Manual sorting›Shredding›Size sorting›Magnetic separation

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29. SEPTEMBER 2011

MFA AVERHOFF (continued)

6

Fraction from over-belt magnet (electromotor

and transformer waste ).

Output from the multi-cyclone filter.

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29. SEPTEMBER 2011

MFA AVERHOFF (continued)

Materials/components in the output fractionMix of flat panel displays; printed wiring boards without Br-FR; cables (mix); shredder iron fraction; mobiles, non-ferrous metal fractionPlastics parts from dismantling (HS below ROHS/REACH values); CRT tubes; Ni-Cd, NiMH, Li-containing, and mixed batteries; CFC/HCFC/HFC cooling and freezing appliances Mix of toner and ink cartridges Wood fractions and pieces from dismantling; Plastics parts from dismantling (HS above ROHS/REACH values); glass fractions from dismantling; CRT glass pieces; residual waste from dismantling; filter residueElectrolyte capacitors; mix of PCB-containing capacitors; mercury-containing components; filter residues; special displays and beryllium-containing units.

7

≈ 1500 tons/year Total weight of WEEE where energy is recovered in a power plant

≈ 41.5 tons/year Total weight of remaining WEEE which is disposed to landfill

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29. SEPTEMBER 2011

LIMITATIONS OF DANISH WEEE DATA›poor and not sufficient for SFA

›non-transparent flow of different materials › in the collection and pre-processing stages

›generic WEEE nomenclature

›generic knowledge of HS content in WEEE › no chem. analysis › manual sorting according to equipment list from WEEE-directive.

› HS content in new products?8

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29. SEPTEMBER 2011

SUBSTANCE COMPOSITION OF WEEESubstance Occurrence in WEEE Concentrat

ion in WEEE (mg/kg)a

Halogenated compounds:

- PCB (polychlorinated biphenyls)

Condensers, Transformers 13

- TBBP-A (tetrabromo-bisphenol-A)

Flame retardants for plastics (thermoplastic components, cable insulation)

1420

- PBB (polybrominated biphenyls)*

TBBA is presently the most widely used flame retardant in printed wiring boards (PWB) and casings.

- PBDE (polybrominated diphenyl ethers)*

Flame retardants in PWBs, connectors and plastic covers.

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- Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)

Cooling unit, Insulation foam

- PVC (polyvinyl chloride)

Cable insulation

Metals: - Diantimony trioxide Contained in flame

retardants in PWBs

- Arsenic Small quantities in the form of gallium arsenide within light emitting diodes

- Barium Getters in CRT - Beryllium Power supply boxes which

contain silicon controlled rectifiers and x-ray lenses

9

- Cadmium* Rechargeable NiCd-batteries, fluorescent layer (CRT screens), printer inks and toners, photocopying-machines (printer drums), accumulators

180

- Chromium VI* Data tapes, floppy-disks 9900- Gallium arsenide LED light emitting Diode,

solar cells (ECHA, 2010b), semiconductors (microchips) in wireless and wi-fi consumer electronic products (EECA, 2007)

- Germanium Photodiodes - Indiumb LCD glass, semiconductors - Lead* CRT screens, batteries,

printed wiring boards, accumulators

2900

- Lithium Li-batteries - Mercury* Fluorescent lamps and

vapour lamps. Fluorescent lamps that provide backlighting in LCDs. Some alkaline batteries. Mercury wetted switches, accumulators

0.68

- Nickel Rechargeable NiCd-batteries or NiMH-batteries, electron gun in CRT, accumulators

10300

Radio-active substances:

- Americium Medical equipment, fire detectors, active sensing element in smoke detectors

*Regulated by RoHS

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29. SEPTEMBER 2011

HS OF CONCERN OUTSIDE RoHSCRITERIA FOR IDENTIFICATION›Subst. dangerous in accordance with the Dangerous Substances Directive (Directive 67/548/EEC), that applies to pure chemicals marketed in the EU

›Subst. Of very high concern (SVHC) in accordance with REACH

›Subst. found as contaminants in humans and biota

›Subst. with hazardous degradation products 10

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29. SEPTEMBER 2011

HS OF CONCERN OUTSIDE RoHS (1)Candidate substance

Main use in EEE Total quantity used in EEE [t/y in EU]*

Recommendation

Tetrabromo bisphenol A (TBBP-A)

Reactive FR in epoxy and polycarbonate resin, Additive FR in ABS

40000 Inclusion in RoHS(Gross et al., 2008)

Hexabromo- cyclododeca ne (HBCDD)

Flame retardant in HIPS, e.g. in audio-visual equipment, wire, cables


Bis (2- ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP)

Plasticizer in PVC cables; Encapsulation/potting of electronic components


Butylbenzyl- phthalate (BBP)

Plasticizer in PVC cables Encapsulation/potting of electronic components

Total use: 19500 (no data available on share of EEE applications)

Inclusion in RoHS(Gross et al., 2008)

Dibutylphthal ate (DBP)

Plasticizer in PVC cables; Encapsulation/potting of electronics components Silber conductive paint for variable resistors

Total use: 14800 (no data available on share of EEE applications)

Inclusion in RoHS(Gross et al., 2008) 11

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29. SEPTEMBER 2011

HS OF CONCERN OUTSIDE RoHS (2)Candidate substance

Main use in EEE Total quantity used in EEE [t/y in EU]*

Recommendation

Beryllium metal

Optical instruments, X-ray windows

Be metal 2 Labelling for correct end-of-life treatment, classified as a carcinogen, class 2 (Gross et al., 2008)

Beryllium-containing alloys: current carrying springs,integrated circuitry sockets, Silicon-controlled rectifiers (Robinson, 2009), Connectors in printed wiring boards (Tsydenova, 2010)

Be-alloys: 11,5

Beryllium oxide (BeO)

BeO ceramic applications: Laser bores and tubes

15 Labelling for correct end-of-life treatment, classified as a carcinogen, Cat. 2 (Gross et al., 2008)

Power transistors, transistor and valve bases, some resistors (Defra, 2004)

n/n

IndiumPhospide (InP)

Semiconductors n/n Labelling as carcinogen and toxic for reproduction (ECHA, 2010a and b)

Gallium Arsenide (GaAs)

LED,mobile handsets and Wi-Fi applications, opto-electronics, and control systems

n/n Labelling as Carc., Cat. 1; R45; Repro. Cat. 2; R60; T; R48/23 (ECHA, 2010c)

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AARHUSUNIVERSITET


29. SEPTEMBER 2011

SUBSTANCE FLOW ANALYSIS (SFA)For 9 selected HS in a Danish pre-processing facility

(6 RoHS subst. + 3 not included in RoHS)

Objectives›Quantify amount HS in specific output fractions.

›Estimate “contamination” of fractions to be recycled/disposed via thermal treatment

›Individuate hot spots for potential impacts 13

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29. SEPTEMBER 2011

SFA 1 – MATCHING OUTPUT FLOW DATA Output Fraction % of total input Destination

Morf et al. (2004) Averhoff, 2010 (aggregated) Morf et al. (2004)

Averhoff (2010)

Morf et al. (2004)

Averhoff (2010)

Pollutant carrier (batteries/capacitors)

mix of PCB containing capacitors; mercury components; electrolyte capacitors; Ni-Cd batteries; NiMH batteries; Li-containing batteries ;

mix of all batteries

1% 0.18% [Batteries Recycling]

[Batteries Recycling]

Fine particulates Filter residues 7% 0.07% [Metal recycling]

[Special disposal]

Cu cables Cables (mix) 2% 6.57% [Metal recycling]

[Metal recycling]

Printed wiring boards (PWB)

Mix of PWB from dismantling; mobiles ; PWB and power supply

units

2% 14.95% [Metal recycling]

[Metal recycling]

Cathode ray tube components

CRT 'tubes' from dismantling 20% 29.15% [Recycling] [Recycling]

Plastics and wooden castings (PC/TV)

plastics 'parts' from dismantling; wood fractions from dismantling

(mix); “pure” wood pieces; metal/plastics mixtures

3% 25.00% [Waste incineration]

[Recycling and thermal

treatment]

Fine grained plastics fractions (<10mm)

Nn 20% Nn [Waste incineration]

Nn

Fine grained metal fractions (<10mm)

Nn 7% Nn [Metal recycling]

Nn

Metal scrap fractions Other 'metal fractions' from dismantling; deflection units; mix

of flat panel displays; electric motors/dry transformers (mix)

7% 8.19% [Metal recycling]

[Metal recycling]

Fe scrap fractions shredder iron fraction 31% 15.89% [Metal recycling]

[Metal recycling]

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29. SEPTEMBER 2011

SFA 2 – CONCENTRATION DATA

[mg/kg] Be HBCDD TBBP-A Pollutant carrier (batteries/capacitors) 0.00 0.00 0.00Fine particulates 0.10 10.00 625.00Cu cables 0.00 25.13 5.13Printed circuit boards 100.00 10.53 42.11Cathode ray tube components 0.00 0.00 0.00Plastics and wooden castings (PC/TV) 0.00 174.60 18095.24Metal scrap fractions 1-4 0.10 0.00 0.00Fe scrap fractions 0.10 0.00 0.00

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›Substances included in RoHS + others›HS Conc. data in WEEE sorted fractions, from literature (Morf et al, 2004-2007, Swiss case study)

›Data prior to RoHS!!! expected overestimation of RoHS HS flows

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29. SEPTEMBER 2011

SFA 3 - RESULTS›Total amount (kg) HS per different output fractions.

›Calculated total HS content of input WEEE

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Tetrabromo-bisphenol-A (TBBP-A)

Chromium (Cr)

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29. SEPTEMBER 2011

SFA-4 DISCUSSION›Printed wiring board carrier for metal pollutants Manual sorting best solution (shredded PWB may end in other fractions)

›Toxic organic compounds in plastic fraction› high quantities of plastic (ca. 4000 tons/year) and › high concentration of HS (TBBP-A ca.18000 mg/kg; HBCDD ca. 174 mg/kg).

›Metals and HS in plastic fraction obstacle for thermal treatment or recycling.

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29. SEPTEMBER 2011

POTENTIAL IMPACTS FROM HS IN WEEE›WEEE treatment Primary emissions

›WEEE reaction products secondary emissions

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Collection

Thermal /Landfill Disposal

Recycling/smelters

PS(recovered) HS

PS (lost)

HS

Sorting/shredding

Outside DenmarkW

EE

E

E

E

Workers Exposure

Impact onhumans/

environment

Collection

Thermal /Landfill Disposal

Recycling/smelters

PS(recovered) HS

PS (lost)

HS

Sorting/shredding

Outside DenmarkW

EE

E

E

E

Workers Exposure

Impact onhumans/

environment

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29. SEPTEMBER 2011

WORKERS EXPOSURE› Classification of equipmentfailure in recognizing equipment containing HS Accidental exposure via dermal contact/inhalation

› Manual disassembly: long-term exposure to HS via inhalation of dust; HS from accidental breakage of equipment; dermal contact when cutting, breaking, handling the material.

› Dust from shredding, exposure via inhalation/dermal contact

EXTREME SCARCITY OF DATA (e.g. For HS emissions; monitoring of indoor HS concentration e.g. in dust/air;

biomonitoring) 19

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29. SEPTEMBER 2011

IMPACTS ON HUMAN AND ENVIRONMENT›Primary& secondary emission from thermal treatment of

› Contaminated plastic from WEEE sorting› EEE products collected with MSW (e.g. mobile phones)

›Not yet quantifiable due to lack of data› HS Emissions and Fate

›SFA first stage› Use of emission factors from literature for thermal treatment, landifll

› Life Cycle Impact assessment method applied to SFA results 20

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29. SEPTEMBER 2011

CONCLUSIONS AND PERSPECTIVES› WEEE hazardous waste, growing amounts, changing composition, new products

› Gaps in reporting and monitoring of WEEE flows› Incomplete info on HS substance content, specially for new HS (not inclued in RoHS)

› SFA for facilities is possible with literature data difficult to upscale to national

› Recommended improvements:› Flow monitoring at National scale (Stocks & flow analysis)› Chemical analysis of WEEE composition (focus on new subst.)› Monitoring of indoor conc., › Life Cycle impact assessment based on SFA data

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29. SEPTEMBER 2011

THANK YOUPresentation based on the project and report citet below:Pizzol, M., Hansen, M.S. & Thomsen, M. 2011.Greening of Electronics – Identification of hazardous compounds. Danish EPA report, in press

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GREENING ELECTRONICS Lessons from a Danish study on WEEE