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5 Recovery of Metals from Electronic Waste
in 2003 which was revised in 2014. This legislative defines the responsibilities of
the electric and electronic equipment manufacturers in the collection and recycling
of e-waste. The other legislation is “The Directive on the Restriction of Hazardous
Substances (RoHS)” in 2003, which was revised in 2012 and bans using certain types
of hazardous elements in the manufacturing of electric and electronic equipment [3].
The United States does not have a federal law to regulate e-waste and the policies vary
from state to state. Some of the Midwestern states such as Minnesota, Wisconsin,
Illinois, Missouri, Indiana, and Michigan have adopted e-waste management and
recycling programs [1]. The same situation applies to Australia where no national
regulatory framework exists for e-waste management. However, in recent years the
government of Australia has created specific legislation to manage WEEE including
the “National Waste Policy 2009”, Product Stewardship Act 2011, Product Stewardship (Televisions and Computers) Regulations 2011 and National Television and
Computer Recycling Scheme 2011 (NTCRS) [7]. In Canada, the e-waste legislation
is set at the municipal, provincial and governmental level, respectively. At the municipal level, the local government is responsible for the waste management services,
local landfill bans and giving direction on recycling and disposal to the public. The
provincial government is responsible for the regulations covering extended producer
responsibility, controlling and licensing the intra-provincial waste generators and
treatment facilities. The federal government regulates toxic substances and hazardous
waste transportation, as well as transcribing international agreements into national
laws and achieving through the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA 1999)
[8].
5.3 Economic Values of E-Waste
The economic value of e-waste comes from its valuable metals such as gold,
silver, copper, platinum, etc. A tonne of smartphones contains 100 times more gold
compared to a tonne of gold ore. The electric components of a smartphone worth
more than $100, indicating significant economic potential as 1.46 billion smartphones
were sold in 2017. The material value of the used electronic devices is $ 62.5 billion
annually that is three times more than the annual output of the world’s silver mines
[5].
5.4 E-Waste Recycling
Recycling is an effective e-waste management strategy that can reduce the leakage of
toxic materials into the environment and improve the conservation of resources. The
required energy to recover the metals and plastics from e-waste is significantly lower
than the energy used for the manufacturing of these materials via mining, refining
and manufacturing processes [3]. E-waste recycling is performed both informally
5 Recovery of Metals from Electronic Waste
in 2003 which was revised in 2014. This legislative defines the responsibilities of
the electric and electronic equipment manufacturers in the collection and recycling
of e-waste. The other legislation is “The Directive on the Restriction of Hazardous
Substances (RoHS)” in 2003, which was revised in 2012 and bans using certain types
of hazardous elements in the manufacturing of electric and electronic equipment [3].
The United States does not have a federal law to regulate e-waste and the policies vary
from state to state. Some of the Midwestern states such as Minnesota, Wisconsin,
Illinois, Missouri, Indiana, and Michigan have adopted e-waste management and
recycling programs [1]. The same situation applies to Australia where no national
regulatory framework exists for e-waste management. However, in recent years the
government of Australia has created specific legislation to manage WEEE including
the “National Waste Policy 2009”, Product Stewardship Act 2011, Product Stewardship (Televisions and Computers) Regulations 2011 and National Television and
Computer Recycling Scheme 2011 (NTCRS) [7]. In Canada, the e-waste legislation
is set at the municipal, provincial and governmental level, respectively. At the municipal level, the local government is responsible for the waste management services,
local landfill bans and giving direction on recycling and disposal to the public. The
provincial government is responsible for the regulations covering extended producer
responsibility, controlling and licensing the intra-provincial waste generators and
treatment facilities. The federal government regulates toxic substances and hazardous
waste transportation, as well as transcribing international agreements into national
laws and achieving through the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA 1999)
[8].
5.3 Economic Values of E-Waste
The economic value of e-waste comes from its valuable metals such as gold,
silver, copper, platinum, etc. A tonne of smartphones contains 100 times more gold
compared to a tonne of gold ore. The electric components of a smartphone worth
more than $100, indicating significant economic potential as 1.46 billion smartphones
were sold in 2017. The material value of the used electronic devices is $ 62.5 billion
annually that is three times more than the annual output of the world’s silver mines
[5].
5.4 E-Waste Recycling
Recycling is an effective e-waste management strategy that can reduce the leakage of
toxic materials into the environment and improve the conservation of resources. The
required energy to recover the metals and plastics from e-waste is significantly lower
than the energy used for the manufacturing of these materials via mining, refining
and manufacturing processes [3]. E-waste recycling is performed both informally