By 2005, one computer will reach obsolescence for every new one placed on the market. That amounts to a lot of electronics waste. Learn what it would take to set up a large-scale recovery program:

Over the last decade, the electronics industry has been remarkably successful in building a mass consumer market for computers, cell phones and other personal electronic equipment. Growth has been phenomenal, particularly for personal computers. But this rapid expansion now presents a weighty challenge—how to safely and cost-efficiently recover the materials that comprise these products instead of simply disposing of them. And in order to establish a system for the wide scale reuse and recycling of electronic products, governments around the world, industry and key individuals will need to make massive investments.

By 2005, one computer will become obsolete for every new one placed on the market, according to some estimates. Between 1997 and 2004, approximately 315 million computers will reach obsolescence, resulting in the disposal of 550 million kilograms (kg) of lead, 900,000 kg of cadmium, 180,000 kg of mercury and half a million kg of chromium. This will also lead to the discard of 1.8 billion kg of plastic and at least 159 million kg of brominated flame-retardants from monitors. Capturing and reusing these materials is a priority because of their sheer volume. Currently, electronic products account for 22% of the annual world consumption of mercury, and their disposal generates 40% of the lead in landfills.

So far, 11 countries have enacted mandatory electronics recovery laws, including Belgium, Denmark, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Portugal, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea. Additionally, several countries such as Germany have set up extensive voluntary programs. The U.S. government, in comparison, is still in the planning stages. While the government kicked off the National Electronic Product Stewardship Initiative—a series of discussions to establish a national electronics recovery system—in 2001, it has yet to settle on a course of action. But the enactment of legislation seems only a matter of time. Last year, 52 electronics waste (e-waste) bills were introduced in 26 states. And California has already imposed a fee on cathode ray tubes (CRTs) and restricted the use of heavy metals.

Setting up an e-waste recovery system is tricky because of many challenges. Accurately estimating recycling volumes is one notable one. It doesn’t help to look at sales data because this information is often incomplete and fragmented, with companies reluctant to disclose such figures because of marketing reasons. Moreover, manufacturers that have gone out of business complicate the picture because they create difficult-to-quantify “orphan” products of uncertain material composition. And not only is collecting sales data problematic, gathering information about products’ use, obsolescence and failure is also challenging. Another obstacle is the relatively low rate of consumer participation in the U.S. Currently, it hovers between 1% and 10% of electronic product owners with obsolete items. Moreover, the products to be recycled vary widely in age and condition, with some electronics, like TVs, approaching 20 years old or over.

Because of the diversity of electronic products and their highly variable rates of obsolescence and failure, it’s hard to determine which type of collection program will work best in a region. Currently, no single collection mechanism is prevalent. For example, some U.S. companies let consumers mail products back to them, especially if they still contain some value, such as current generation monitors. This program, however, can be very expensive and does not seem appropriate for large products that are obsolete or broken. Some states have set up collection centers where people can drop off products, while some nonprofit organizations are collecting products that can be reused by other groups, such as the underprivileged. Another collection technique—and one that is catching on—is the “special event” which is held in a public venue, such as an electronics retailer or a university campus, where people can come and unload their e-waste, often with a fee placed on each car or item.

Indeed, reusing and recycling e-waste on a national level will be no easy task. While there are already systems in place to recycle mass-produced consumer products such as refrigerators and washing machines, electronic products represent a whole new category. For one thing, their material composition is more complex, including valuable metals, hazardous ones and low value plastics. Second, it’s very difficult to predict recycling volumes and to determine which collection program types will be most cost-efficient. An entire reverse supply chain will have to be built around these products—presenting a challenge, as well as an opportunity, for the government and industry.

Source:

E-Waste: An Opportunity
Matthew J. Realff, Michele Raymond and Jane C. Ammons
Materials Today, January 2004
www.materialstoday.com