SUbstance flow analysis of the recycling of small waste electrical ...

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100 Substance flow analysis of the recycling of small WEEE et al. (2007), Janz et al. (2009b) and Saurat & Bringezu (2008). These authors mentioned the role that the informal sector could play, for instance the export to non-OECD countries. Tonnes 200000 160000 120000 Germany Theoretical generation Generation after data reconciliation 80000 40000 0 Tonnes 1600000 Mobile phones USA Desktop personal computer CRT monitor Large high-grade equipment Small high-grade equipment Low -grade equipment 1200000 800000 400000 0 Mobile phones Desktop personal computer CRT monitor Large high-grade equipment Small high-grade equipment Low -grade equipment Figure 31 Comparison of the theoretical generation of sWEEE and the sum of the quantities of sWEEE collected separately and disposed of together with residual waste The following hypotheses can be proposed to explain why, in Germany, the theoretical generation is higher than the generation determined by data reconciliation based on the quantities of separately and non-separately collected sWEEE (except for low-grade equipment): 1. The waste flows collected by the informal sector were underestimated; 2. The non-separated collection, quantified on the basis of the sorting analyses of Rotter & Janz (2006) and Janz & Bilitewski (2007), was underestimated; 3. The generation was overestimated, due to data gaps on the lifetime distribution of devices (including hibernation of unused devices), as mentioned by Wen et al. (2009).
6. Discussion of the results of the SFA 101 4. The allocation of the separately collected sWEEE in the collection groups was partly erroneous, and some low-grade devices were classified as high-grade equipment. In Germany, the overestimation of the generation is probably due to an underestimation of the average lifetimes of the EEE. This may be a consequence of the behaviour of the German users, who may have more hibernating end-of-life devices than the US users. The behaviour of the users and for instance the phenomenon of hibernation were little investigated. Up to now, the research on lifetime of appliances focused on investigating experimentally the age of end-of-life appliances delivered to WEEE collection facilities (Babbitt et al. 2009; Mueller et al. 2007; Scheidt 2007; US EPA 2007a). These reports mention that the age distribution of the end-of-life devices is not symmetrical, has a long tail, and is best described by the Weibull function. So far, studies did not take into account the unused appliances stored for a (very) long time by the last user to determine the average lifetimes, because the previous research considered only end-of-life equipment brought to a collection facility. The consideration of these unused hibernating devices would probably show that the average lifetimes were underestimated by the previous studies and also that the hibernation phenomenon of the EEE cannot be observed in the same magnitude for all equipment types. Janz et al. (2009b) shows how an underestimation of the average lifetime of WEEE can cause an overestimation of the theoretical generation of WEEE. The underestimation of the generation of low-grade waste equipment in Germany may be explained by the non-consideration of some equipment types in the estimation of the generation. In the USA, the theoretical generation is closer to the total amount of separately and nonseparately collected sWEEE (Figure 31), which can suggest that hibernation of unused devices is less common in the USA than in Germany. Many factors influence the discarding behaviour of the users, like cultural factors, which lead the German citizens to dislike discarding their unused appliances, especially the most valuable ones. This is illustrated in Figure 30, which shows that in Germany, far less sWEEE rich in precious metals is generated per capita than in the USA. More research on the equipment lifetimes and on the factors that influence them would bring new quantitative information for a better modelling of the lifetime distribution of EEE and of the generation of WEEE (Babbitt et al. 2009). Research on waste generation allows a better understanding of the behaviour of the user and, therefore, the development of strategies and incentives for collection more adapted to the user behaviour.
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ITU-Schriftenreihe, 2010 Institut f
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Bibliografische Information Der Deu
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Acknowledgements Here I would like
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Kurzfassung Die Nachfrage nach Edel
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Composition of the doctoral thesis
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4.1.1. Generation .................
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Figure 25 Flows of gold and palladi
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Table 26 Quantity of sWEEE (includi
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Page 69 and 70: 4. Data inventory 69 average weight
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Page 121 and 122: 7. Recommendations 121 the manufact
Page 123 and 124: 7. Recommendations 123 Reuter et al
Page 125 and 126: 8. Conclusion 125 All the equipment
Page 127 and 128: References 127 Binder 2007 BITKOM 2
Page 129 and 130: References 129 CIWMB 2004b Clift &
Page 131 and 132: References 131 Greenpeace 2005 Gree
Page 133 and 134: References 133 Janz & Bilitewski 20
Page 135 and 136: References 135 Melissen 2006 Mesker
Page 137 and 138: References 137 Rhein et al. 2008 Rh
Page 139 and 140: References 139 StEP 2009 Stevels 20
Page 141 and 142: References 141 Veldhuizen & Sippel
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Appendices 151 Eq. group Equipment
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Appendices 153 2 Assumptions based
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Appendices 159 Appendix 8 Flows of
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Appendices 161 Appendix 10 Flows of
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