scholarly journals Recycling Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and the Management of Its Toxic Substances in Taiwan—A Case Study

Toxics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 48
Author(s):  
Wen-Tien Tsai
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Flame Retardants ◽  
Brominated Flame Retardants ◽  
Chemical Substance ◽  
Electronic Equipment ◽  
Hazardous Substances ◽  
Toxic Chemical ◽  
Recycling System ◽  
International Trends ◽  
Weee Recycling

In the past two decades, the waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) management has become an important environmental issue internationally because it contained hazardous substances like heavy metals and brominated flame retardants. Moreover, some valuable substances were used in the electrical and electronic products, thus representing a circular industry for recycling of WEEE. Therefore, the Taiwan government formulated a legal WEEE recycling system since 1998 in response to the international trends of sustainable waste management and extended producer responsibility (EPR). This article adopted the national statistics in Taiwan regarding the online reporting amounts of collected WEEE since it has been officially designated as one of the mandatory recyclable wastes. Furthermore, the regulatory measures were addressed to update the status and subsidiary fee rates of WEEE recycling in Taiwan. In addition, this article also put emphasis on the regulations governing the toxic chemical substances contained in the WEEE. It showed that the average annual recycling amounts of home electronic appliances, information technology products and lighting in Taiwan during the 2017–2018 were around 117,000, 18,000 and 4500 metric tons, respectively. It was also indicated that the current WEEE recycling market in Taiwan has become saturated, reflecting the regulatory promulgation and promotional measures successfully. In response to the Stockholm Convention on persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and the Minamata Convention on Mercury, the Taiwan government declared some brominated flame retardants and heavy metals (i.e., mercury and cadmium) as a “toxic chemical substance” under the Toxic and Concerned Chemical Substance Control Act (TCCSCA), which shall be prohibited to use in the preparation of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) since 1 January 2016. Through the central governing authority, local governments, and private recyclers in Taiwan, the successful WEEE recycling system not only reduce the pressure on sanitary disposal systems, but also prevent the chemical hazards from solid waste incineration systems. More significantly, the WEEE recycling in Taiwan echoed the United Nations (UN) Agenda 2030 for sustainable development goals.

scholarly journals Recycling Plastics from WEEE: A Review of the Environmental and Human Health Challenges Associated with Brominated Flame Retardants

2022 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 766
Author(s):  
Cecilia Chaine ◽  
Andrew S. Hursthouse ◽  
Bruce McLean ◽  
Iain McLellan ◽  
Brian McMahon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Flame Retardants ◽  
Wide Spectrum ◽  
Brominated Flame Retardants ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
Consumer Products ◽  
Hazardous Substances ◽  
Research Gaps ◽  
Current Trends ◽  
Weee Recycling ◽  
Treatment Facilities

Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) presents the dual characteristic of containing both hazardous substances and valuable recoverable materials. Mainly found in WEEE plastics, brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are a component of particular interest. Several actions have been taken worldwide to regulate their use and disposal, however, in countries where no regulation is in place, the recovery of highly valuable materials has promoted the development of informal treatment facilities, with serious consequences for the environment and the health of the workers and communities involved. Hence, in this review we examine a wide spectrum of aspects related to WEEE plastic management. A search of legislation and the literature was made to determine the current legal framework by region/country. Additionally, we focused on identifying the most relevant methods of existing industrial processes for determining BFRs and their challenges. BFR occurrence and substitution by novel BFRs (NBFRs) was reviewed. An emphasis was given to review the health and environmental impacts associated with BFR/NBFR presence in waste, consumer products, and WEEE recycling facilities. Knowledge and research gaps of this topic were highlighted. Finally, the discussion on current trends and proposals to attend to this relevant issue were outlined.

scholarly journals Design for Circularity Guidelines for the EEE Sector

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 3923
Author(s):  
Anton Berwald ◽  
Gergana Dimitrova ◽  
Thijs Feenstra ◽  
Joop Onnekink ◽  
Harm Peters ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Value Chain ◽  
Electronic Equipment ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Hazardous Substances ◽  
Easy Access ◽  
Stakeholder Collaboration ◽  
Weee Recycling ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Multi Stakeholder ◽  
Different Levels

The increased diversity and complexity of plastics used in modern devices, such as electrical and electronic equipment (EEE), can have negative impacts on their recyclability. Today, the main economic driver for waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) recycling stems from metal recovery. WEEE plastics recycling, on the other hand, still represents a major challenge. Strategies like design ‘for’, but also the much younger concept of design ‘from’ recycling play a key role in closing the material loops within a circular economy. While these strategies are usually analysed separately, this brief report harmonises them in comprehensive Design for Circularity guidelines, established in a multi-stakeholder collaboration with industry leaders from the entire WEEE value chain. The guidelines were developed at the product and part levels. They are divided in five categories: (1) avoidance of hazardous substances; (2) enabling easy access and removal of hazardous or polluting parts; (3) use of recyclable materials; (4) use of material combinations and connections allowing easy liberation; (5) use of recycled materials. These guidelines are the first harmonised set to be released for the EEE industry. They can readily serve decision-makers from different levels, including product designers and manufacturers as well as policymakers.

A Mini-Review on Disposal of WEEE Plastics Containing PBDEs with a Special Focus on China

2014 ◽  
Vol 878 ◽  
pp. 600-608 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chao Deng ◽  
Ying Li ◽  
Jin Hui Li ◽  
Hua Fen Li
Keyword(s):  
Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers ◽  
Flame Retardants ◽  
Rapid Development ◽  
Electronic Equipment ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Electronic Industry ◽  
Mechanical Recycling ◽  
Weee Recycling ◽  
Diphenyl Ethers ◽  
The Status

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), especially pentaBDE and decaBDE have been extensively used as flame retardants in plastics of most electronic equipment. However, PBDE congeners have been found in the environment, in wildlife and in human body worldwide with evidences that they pose risks both to human health and to the entire ecosystem. China has become an important pentaBDE and decaBDE production country because of the increasing domestic demand due to rapid development of electronic industry in recent years. Although pentaBDE was phased out in 2004, decaBDE still remains in production and is used in electrical industry. Additionally, large amounts of plastics containing these pollutants from waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) are generated in China each year and their disposal has been a vital environmental challenge. Machaniclal recycling, fedlock recycling and landfilling are three main means of disposal of WEEE plastics. This article reviews the production of PBDEs, the amounts of WEEE and the disposal of WEEE plastics worldwide, with a special focus on China. The state of the emission of PBDEs and highly toxic polybrominated dibenzo dioxins/furans in the process of disposal is summed up based on previous studies. This article recommends that mechanical recycling should be the main means of disposal of WEEE recycling with regards to the summaries, the current practices and the status in China.

scholarly journals Analysis of polybrominated diphenyl ether and tetrabromobisphenol A in plastic samples in Mongolia

2014 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 27-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
B Bayarmaa ◽  
T Gan-Erdene ◽  
Roland Weber ◽  
L Jargalsaikhan
Keyword(s):  
Maximum Concentration ◽  
Flame Retardants ◽  
Diphenyl Ether ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Brominated Flame Retardants ◽  
Average Concentration ◽  
Hazardous Substances ◽  
Tetrabromobisphenol A ◽  
Electronic Products ◽  
Cadmium Lead

This study was conducted to determine brominated flame retardants (BFRs) in electronic products in view compliance with the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) and initiated by activities for implementation of the Stockholm Convention. Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are synthetic additives mainly used in electrical and electronic appliances and in construction materials. Total 16 plastic casing samples were tested for threshold levels of polybrominated ethers. According the XFR results, the concentration of cadmium, lead, mercury and chromium were found below than Maximum Concentration Value (MCV) of RoHS, while the concentration of total bromine was exceeded the standard limitations in the samples. Only 1 out of the 16 plastic samples contains DecaBDEs while Tetrabromobisphenol (TBBP-A) is the major brominated flame retardants. However by the presence of one sample the average concentration of DecaBDE was above the RoHS limit of 1000 ppm as found in studies in other countries.DOI: http://doi.dx.org/10.5564/mjc.v15i0.317 Mongolian Journal of Chemistry 15 (41), 2014, p27-32

scholarly journals THE SUBSTITUTION OF REGULATED BROMINATED FLAME RETARDANTS IN PLASTIC PRODUCTS AND WASTE AND THE DECLARED PROPERTIES OF THE SUBSTITUTES IN REACH

Detritus ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 16-25
Author(s):  
Pierre Hennebert
Keyword(s):  
Endocrine Disruptors ◽  
Flame Retardants ◽  
Brominated Flame Retardants ◽  
Plastic Waste ◽  
Electronic Equipment ◽  
Registration Dossier ◽  
Concentration Limits ◽  
Plastic Products ◽  
Over Time ◽  
The Eu

Plastics containing brominated flame retardants (BFR) currently contain both “legacy” regulated and non-regulated BFR (R-BFRs and NR-BFRs), as evidenced by the increasingly lower correspondence over time between total bromine and R-BFRs content. The portion of substitutive NR-BFR present in the plastics and their toxicity and ecotoxicity properties are documented. Data relating to plastics and foam present in electrical and electronic equipment (EEE), waste EEE, vehicles, textiles and upholstery, toys, leisure and sports equipment show how 88% of plastic waste contains bromine from NR-BFRs. BFR substances mentioned in the catalogs of the three main producers (Albemarle, ICL, Lanxess) and BFR on the official used list of 418 plastic additives in the EU were gathered and the toxic and ecotoxic properties of these compounds as listed in their ECHA registration dossier were compiled. Fifty-five preparations using 34 NR-BFRs substances, including polymers and blends, were found. Seventeen of these substances featured an incomplete dossier, 12 were equipped with a complete dossier, whilst 11 substances (including 2 ill-defined blends) should be reassessed. Eight substances have been notified for assessment by the ECHA as persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic, or as endocrine disruptors, including decabromodiphenylethane; 3 substances display functional concentrations (the concentration of additives that retards flame) exceeding the concentration limits classifying a waste as hazardous but are “reactive” (they bind to the polymer). The technical limit of 2 000 mg total Br/kg indicated for further recycling (EN 50625-3-1) relates to all brominated substances and is relevant in the sorting of all poorly classified new substances.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document