12 th Asia-Pacific roundtable for sustainable consumption and production Siem Reap, 13 th July 2016 E-waste recycling in Europe and the P.R. China a comparison S. Salhofer, B. Steuer, R. Ramusch, P. Beigl BOKU University of Natural Resources and Life Science Department für Water Atmosphere - Environment Institute of Waste Management
Introduction and Motivation Dynamic development of e-waste management both in Europe and China Legislation in place both in Europe and China Project activities: REWIN (Resource Efficiency for production and recycling of Electronics in China) 2011 2015 2
E-waste generation at a glance Similar equipment rates Household equipment rates in Beijing and Vienna are similar In the medium term a significant increase of e- waste in urban China, 700 mio citizens 3
E-waste generation at a glance Wide range of collection rate acrosseu 4
E-waste generation at a glance Rising collection rates in China 5
Treatment in European Union 6
Treatment in European Union Downstream management Steel Copper Aluminium Plastics Compound materials (printed circuit boards, motors, ) Glass from CRT screens Other For materials without impurities markets in metallurgy exist Requiresorting, markets exist (partly) Hazardous materials (batteries, capacitors, Hgelements, LC, CFC, ) processing Limited markets Require disposal (costs!) 7
Treatment in P.R. China e-waste recycling quantities in five provinces 2010 2014 Personal computer Air conditioners Washing machines Refrigerators TV sets 8
Treatment in P.R. China Field study 2012 2015 Product range in 13 recycling facilities visited: Cathode ray tubes Refrigerat ors A ü ü Air conditioners Washing machines B ü ü ü ü C ü ü ü ü D Personal computers E ü ü LCD F ü ü ü ü ü G ü ü ü ü H ü ü ü ü ü I ü ü ü ü J ü ü ü ü ü K ü ü ü ü ü Components Cables, PCB L ü ü ü ü Cartridges M ü ü ü ü ü 9
Treatment in P.R. China Processing of cathode ray tubes (CRTs) Dismantling Separation of glass To evacuate fluorescent powder 10
Treatment in P.R. China Processing of PCBs Takes place in 8 (out of 12) facilities Mechanical treatment on site (4) Hydro- & pyrometallurgic treatment on site (1) Sent to recycler for mechanical treatment (3) 11
Treatment in P.R. China Processing of plastics Dismantling, fragmentising Direct use for wood-plastic compounds No separation of brominated flame retardants 12
Results Recycling technology No significant difference in dismantling technology for cathode ray tubes, personal computers, refrigerators and air conditioners (washing machines only dismantled in China) Treatment of printed circuit boards: in China based on mechanical treatment, in EU input to special smelters, where precious metals can be recovered Plastics: processing into wood-plastic compound (incl. flame retardants) 13
References Further information on WEEE recycling in China: REWIN Improving Resource Efficiency for the production and recycling of electronic products by adopting of waste tracking system. http://www.rewinchina.net/en/ Salhofer S., B. Steuer, R. Ramusch, P. Beigl: WEEE management in Europe and China a comparison. Waste Management 2015 14
Thank you for your attention Contact: peter.beigl@boku.ac.at BOKU University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna Department Water - Atmosphere - Environemnt Institute of Waste Management abf@boku.ac.at, www.wau.boku.ac.at/abf.html Tel.: +43 (0)1 318 99 00, Fax: +43 (0)1 318 99 00 350 Muthgasse 107/3rd floor, A-1190 Vienna, Austria