Electronic Waste Management
Royal Society of Chemistry: Issues in Environmental Science and Technology
Volume 49
Electronic Waste Management is a 2020 update of the first edition (2008) of this book, and highlights changes in the perception of this topic between these two dates.
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The introductory chapter summarises the scale of electronic waste, the directives and legislation around it, and discusses the composition of electronic wastes, available treatments and recycling methods and barriers to recycling.
The materials used in manufacture of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) are explored in detail, as well as the directives driving materials changes. The first chapter sets a tone for the remainder of the book by describing factors that are barriers to sustainability of EEE manufacture and disposal. There is an interesting comparison of the three primary categories of waste EEE (WEEE) in households (mobile phones, televisions, and white goods) in terms of their recyclability. The prevalent “take-make-waste” electronics system impacts on health, society and environment are highlighted. In particular, the dangerous working conditions arising from demand for resources and the poor legislative protection and practices in the countries where they are abundant are discussed. Further, the range of potential global e-waste value estimates after materials recovery (US$ 11.5bn – US$ 96bn) are compared, and the persistent distinction between new and “second-hand” devices identified as clashing within a circular economy. Cloud computing is explored as a step towards achieving a circular economy, with devices used only to access information. A summary of the Circular Strategies Framework is provided, and three primary strategies are identified, as well as potential potholes where designs could lead to planned obsolescence, rather than circularity. |
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There are reviews of the treatment of WEEE in the UK, Africa, and the Asia Pacific (APAC) region. The UK has consistently been the second largest producer of WEEE in Western Europe but fell short of its recycling and reuse targets consistently from 2014 to 2018 (the book was written in 2019).
A description of the Basel Convention is provided. This prohibits the movement of WEEE across borders; however, significant quantities are still shipped into African nations by concealing it amongst “used-EEE” that is sold to meet growing demand for devices. WEEE is the fastest-growing waste stream in Kenya and South Africa. An emerging narrative is identified of wealthier countries “dumping” WEEE on developing countries that do not have infrastructure or systems to process it in a safe and ecologically sound way, with methods used described as “hazardous to workers and the environment”
The chapter aptly titled “Broken Story about Production and Consumption” was particularly gripping. It highlights anti-trust practices utilised by electronics manufacturers, including planned obsolescence. It also indicates physical repetitive strain injuries, “psychological pain”, and potential links between brain cancer and mobile use. This chapter also considers that “materials used for
electronics are often selected on the basis of satisfying design needs, low costs, and high revenues and profits”, with environmental aspects less important.
A description of the Basel Convention is provided. This prohibits the movement of WEEE across borders; however, significant quantities are still shipped into African nations by concealing it amongst “used-EEE” that is sold to meet growing demand for devices. WEEE is the fastest-growing waste stream in Kenya and South Africa. An emerging narrative is identified of wealthier countries “dumping” WEEE on developing countries that do not have infrastructure or systems to process it in a safe and ecologically sound way, with methods used described as “hazardous to workers and the environment”
The chapter aptly titled “Broken Story about Production and Consumption” was particularly gripping. It highlights anti-trust practices utilised by electronics manufacturers, including planned obsolescence. It also indicates physical repetitive strain injuries, “psychological pain”, and potential links between brain cancer and mobile use. This chapter also considers that “materials used for
electronics are often selected on the basis of satisfying design needs, low costs, and high revenues and profits”, with environmental aspects less important.
Chapter 9 is dedicated to batteries, potentially the most complex components within EEE. An overview of the variety of technologies and formulations is provided, along with the current (at the time of writing) volumes of recycled batteries versus the volumes of production. The legislation around batteries is then explored, including material handling regulations. Crucially, the legislation is intended to prevent heavy metals and other materials from polluting the environment, rather than emissions of carbon dioxide. This chapter draws attention to the increasing desire for longer usable life of batteries from manufacturers. Relevant to this is the fact that around 50% of “waste” lithium-ion batteries retain 70% of their nominal energy storage capacity. The overview of regulations around battery transportation and treatment explores the nature and processes of recycling batteries, with a particular focus on lithium-ion batteries. A clear statement is made that recycling the materials is “a complex and costly process hindered by the absence of a standardised product across the market”.
The authors call to attention the need for emissions treatment in pyrometallurgy “from combustion of carbon and organic compounds”, but do not explain why or what the emissions are. This becomes all the more concerning when reading the statement that “at the current time, pyrometallurgy is the overriding and dominant treatment methodology ”. Detailed, objective evaluation of
some newly developed methods is provided. The chapter concludes that hydrometallurgy is needed to minimise the environmental impact of mining for battery materials, but that the resulting liquid pollution is currently unquantified.
The discussion moves on to novel design and process chemistries for the manufacture of printed circuit boards (PCBs), aiming to reduce the use of expensive or critical raw material and improving the end-of-life options, including repurpose and recycling. The global usage of copper, gold, and indium reserves makes for stark reading as the authors attempt to raise awareness of the need for
their more efficient use in PCBs and recovery from end-of-life materials – the majority of which are already in landfill. To this end, there is an examination of alternative electrolytes being developed for chemical processing and coating of materials to achieve similar properties to those already established. Use of deep eutectic solvents (ionometallurgy) as solutions for metals recovery from PCBs is also explored. An application for this was noted in recovery of low concentration, strategic materials from photovoltaics, touch screens, and small magnets, etc.
The final chapter addresses the recycling of plastic itself, though the otherwise excellent editing seems to have fallen short here, as evidenced by the switching between tons and tonnes. The main issue is that “recycled plastics are still perceived as unattractive to the end-user”. It goes on to summarise PolyCE circular business models, including how they function and what potential environmental benefits they offer.
An outline of the role of each group in the commercial chain, including retailers and end-users, is then presented. A comparison of the reuse of appliances based on collection points is also offered, with approximately 90% of appliances collected from households holding potential for reuse, but only around 1% from recycling centres. This drastic difference is explained simply by “this is often due to handling”. It is noted that, however, designing a product to include recycled materials requires less investment than integrating recycled material into a complete product designed for production with virgin materials. There is also the clear statement that WEEE treatment operators need to improve their procedures, and recyclers need to improve performance of compounded plastic product to meet manufacturer specifications.
This book provides a great insight into the processes, challenges and progress around management of waste electrical and electronic equipment. However, some clarity is lost from the figures presented as a result of monochrome printing. Also, whilst each chapter starts with an abstract, the book may have benefitted from a chapter to summarise and conclude the collective works. The lack of such a chapter leaves a sensation that more needs to be said. However, the book is an excellent resource for anyone researching in the field of electronic waste management and should certainly be considered by anyone working in electronic equipment design and manufacture as food for thought.
some newly developed methods is provided. The chapter concludes that hydrometallurgy is needed to minimise the environmental impact of mining for battery materials, but that the resulting liquid pollution is currently unquantified.
The discussion moves on to novel design and process chemistries for the manufacture of printed circuit boards (PCBs), aiming to reduce the use of expensive or critical raw material and improving the end-of-life options, including repurpose and recycling. The global usage of copper, gold, and indium reserves makes for stark reading as the authors attempt to raise awareness of the need for
their more efficient use in PCBs and recovery from end-of-life materials – the majority of which are already in landfill. To this end, there is an examination of alternative electrolytes being developed for chemical processing and coating of materials to achieve similar properties to those already established. Use of deep eutectic solvents (ionometallurgy) as solutions for metals recovery from PCBs is also explored. An application for this was noted in recovery of low concentration, strategic materials from photovoltaics, touch screens, and small magnets, etc.
The final chapter addresses the recycling of plastic itself, though the otherwise excellent editing seems to have fallen short here, as evidenced by the switching between tons and tonnes. The main issue is that “recycled plastics are still perceived as unattractive to the end-user”. It goes on to summarise PolyCE circular business models, including how they function and what potential environmental benefits they offer.
An outline of the role of each group in the commercial chain, including retailers and end-users, is then presented. A comparison of the reuse of appliances based on collection points is also offered, with approximately 90% of appliances collected from households holding potential for reuse, but only around 1% from recycling centres. This drastic difference is explained simply by “this is often due to handling”. It is noted that, however, designing a product to include recycled materials requires less investment than integrating recycled material into a complete product designed for production with virgin materials. There is also the clear statement that WEEE treatment operators need to improve their procedures, and recyclers need to improve performance of compounded plastic product to meet manufacturer specifications.
This book provides a great insight into the processes, challenges and progress around management of waste electrical and electronic equipment. However, some clarity is lost from the figures presented as a result of monochrome printing. Also, whilst each chapter starts with an abstract, the book may have benefitted from a chapter to summarise and conclude the collective works. The lack of such a chapter leaves a sensation that more needs to be said. However, the book is an excellent resource for anyone researching in the field of electronic waste management and should certainly be considered by anyone working in electronic equipment design and manufacture as food for thought.
Reference
Electronic Waste Management, ed. G. H. Eduljee and R. M. Harrison, Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge, 2nd edition, 2020. ISBN 978-1-78801-744-2
Electronic Waste Management, ed. G. H. Eduljee and R. M. Harrison, Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge, 2nd edition, 2020. ISBN 978-1-78801-744-2
