65
RoHS Restriction of hazardous substances directive
Sn
Tin
WEEE Waste electrical and electronic equipment
Zn
Zinc
4.1 Introduction and Overview
Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is defined as obsolete equipment
made of electric circuits and electromagnetic fields, which are discarded due to
inability to deliver expected performance or after the end of its lifetime (Tanskanen
2013). This chapter discusses end-of-life recycling challenges, influences waste
management strategies implemented in industrialized nations to avoid environmental emissions and utilizes useful heavy metals and recyclable components. Electrical
and electronic equipment (EEE) is increasingly growing in volume and material
diversity and considered one of the largest growing global manufacturing activities
(Buekens and Yang 2014). Electronic-waste is in tremendous global increase with
more than 67.7 million mobile phones, Internet access to more than 50% of global
households, 91% households that own televisions, and 99% of households that have
refrigeration (Tuba 2015). The Electronic-waste main source is obsolete televisions,
computers, mobile phones, printers, electronics, home appliances and equipment
used in the manufacturing and automotive industry (Sthiannopkaoa and Wong
2013). On the other hand, the rapid social and economic development of Electronicwaste management is evolving as a major concern particularly in industrial and
developing nations (Mukhtar et al. 2016).
Recycling requires sustainable and Electronic-waste management which is rapidly growing to approximately 40 million tonnes in 2014 (Cao et al. 2016). The
exponential increase in Electronic-waste strives in the manufacturing industry and
governments to draw attention to electrical and electronics material recycling for
better management of renewable and non-renewable resources. Below is an ordinary recycling and separation strategy commonly applied in Electronic-waste recycling facilities as shown in Fig. 4.1 (Hai et al. 2017):
The most common thermoplastics of high interest in waste electrical and electronic equipment recycling are acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), high impact
polystyrene (HIPS), polyphenylene oxide (PPO), polycarbonate (PC), polyvinyl
chloride (PVC) and polypropylene (PP) which retain a high production value.
Below is the electrical and Electronic-waste plastic composition in computer manufacturing facilities as shown in Fig. 4.2 (Hester and Harrison 2009):
• A sharp increase of high-impact polystyrene (HIPS) in televisions and screen
panels, stereos and fans
• A sharp increase of polypropylene (PP) in fans
• A sharp increase of poly-methyl-methacrylate (PMMA) in vacuum cleaners
• A sharp increase of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) in computers and vacuum cleaners
4 Recent Technologies in Electronic-Waste Management
RoHS Restriction of hazardous substances directive
Sn
Tin
WEEE Waste electrical and electronic equipment
Zn
Zinc
4.1 Introduction and Overview
Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is defined as obsolete equipment
made of electric circuits and electromagnetic fields, which are discarded due to
inability to deliver expected performance or after the end of its lifetime (Tanskanen
2013). This chapter discusses end-of-life recycling challenges, influences waste
management strategies implemented in industrialized nations to avoid environmental emissions and utilizes useful heavy metals and recyclable components. Electrical
and electronic equipment (EEE) is increasingly growing in volume and material
diversity and considered one of the largest growing global manufacturing activities
(Buekens and Yang 2014). Electronic-waste is in tremendous global increase with
more than 67.7 million mobile phones, Internet access to more than 50% of global
households, 91% households that own televisions, and 99% of households that have
refrigeration (Tuba 2015). The Electronic-waste main source is obsolete televisions,
computers, mobile phones, printers, electronics, home appliances and equipment
used in the manufacturing and automotive industry (Sthiannopkaoa and Wong
2013). On the other hand, the rapid social and economic development of Electronicwaste management is evolving as a major concern particularly in industrial and
developing nations (Mukhtar et al. 2016).
Recycling requires sustainable and Electronic-waste management which is rapidly growing to approximately 40 million tonnes in 2014 (Cao et al. 2016). The
exponential increase in Electronic-waste strives in the manufacturing industry and
governments to draw attention to electrical and electronics material recycling for
better management of renewable and non-renewable resources. Below is an ordinary recycling and separation strategy commonly applied in Electronic-waste recycling facilities as shown in Fig. 4.1 (Hai et al. 2017):
The most common thermoplastics of high interest in waste electrical and electronic equipment recycling are acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), high impact
polystyrene (HIPS), polyphenylene oxide (PPO), polycarbonate (PC), polyvinyl
chloride (PVC) and polypropylene (PP) which retain a high production value.
Below is the electrical and Electronic-waste plastic composition in computer manufacturing facilities as shown in Fig. 4.2 (Hester and Harrison 2009):
• A sharp increase of high-impact polystyrene (HIPS) in televisions and screen
panels, stereos and fans
• A sharp increase of polypropylene (PP) in fans
• A sharp increase of poly-methyl-methacrylate (PMMA) in vacuum cleaners
• A sharp increase of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) in computers and vacuum cleaners
4 Recent Technologies in Electronic-Waste Management