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

Table of contents of the monograph
1. INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES OF THE WORK ................................... 20
2. BACKGROUND AND DEFINITIONS .............................................................. 22
2.1. About EEE and WEEE .............................................................................................. 22
2.1.1. Lifecycle of EEE .................................................................................................. 22
2.1.2. Definitions of WEEE ........................................................................................... 23
2.1.3. Objectives of WEEE management ..................................................................... 24
2.2. Legislation ................................................................................................................. 24
2.2.1. European legislation ........................................................................................... 24
2.2.2. German legislation .............................................................................................. 27
2.2.3. Legislation in the United States .......................................................................... 28
2.3. WEEE and precious metals ..................................................................................... 29
2.3.1. Precious metals .................................................................................................. 29
2.3.2. Use of precious metals for manufacturing EEE .................................................. 30
2.3.3. Relevance of precious metals in WEEE ............................................................. 31
2.4. Management of sWEEE ............................................................................................ 32
2.4.1. Generation .......................................................................................................... 33
2.4.1.1. Previous estimations of WEEE generation ................................................. 33
2.4.1.2. Lifetime of EEE ........................................................................................... 35
2.4.1.3. Overview of possible methods to estimate the WEEE generation .............. 36
2.4.2. Collection ............................................................................................................ 37
2.4.3. Reuse of WEEE .................................................................................................. 39
2.4.4. Treatment ........................................................................................................... 40
2.4.4.1. Pre-processing ............................................................................................ 40
2.4.4.2. Recovery of precious metals ....................................................................... 42
2.4.4.3. Informal treatment of WEEE ....................................................................... 44
2.5. Mapping metal flows related to WEEE ................................................................... 46
2.5.1. Substance flow analyses in previous studies ..................................................... 46
2.5.2. Literature review ................................................................................................. 47
3. METHODS ....................................................................................................... 50
3.1. System boundaries .................................................................................................. 50
3.2. Qualitative system modelling .................................................................................. 51
3.3. Data gathering .......................................................................................................... 53
3.3.1. Data on characteristics of sWEEE ...................................................................... 54
3.3.2. Data on material and substance flows ................................................................ 57
3.3.2.1. Literature review ......................................................................................... 57
3.3.2.2. Experimental substance flow analyses in pre-processing facilities ............. 58
3.3.2.3. Visits and interviews ................................................................................... 59
3.3.2.4. Estimates .................................................................................................... 59
3.3.3. Uncertainties ....................................................................................................... 59
3.4. Data compilation ....................................................................................................... 60
3.5. Selection and calculation of indicators .................................................................. 61
4. DATA INVENTORY ......................................................................................... 63
4.1. Quantification of the flows related to sWEEE ........................................................ 63
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