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98 Substance flow analysis of the recycling of small WEEE 6. Discussion of the results of the SFA This chapter describes how the substance flow analysis delivers results that allow a better understanding of the management of sWEEE in 2007 in Germany and in the USA and of the precious metals associated with these waste flows. 6.1. System analysis for Germany and the USA The substance flow analysis focussed on quantifying the flows of sWEEE categorised in six equipment groups in two countries. Therefore, the following variables are taken into account to assess the management of sWEEE: Some characteristics of waste equipment, because the average mass, size and value of the devices vary according to the equipment groups; The legislative framework, as well as some economic and social factors in Germany and the USA that influence the system. The variations of other factors, like the changing characteristics of the waste equipment over time and space, were not considered because of data gaps, so that their influence on the management of sWEEE could not be investigated in this thesis. 6.1.1. Waste generation and user discarding behaviour More than the double quantity of sWEEE is generated per capita in the USA (around 12 kg per capita per year) compared to Germany (around 5 kg per capita per year). A comparison of the contribution of the different equipment groups to the total mass of generated sWEEE, as well as to the flows of gold and palladium, is provided by Figure 30. Both in Germany and in the USA, low-grade equipment and CRT monitors make out at least 75% of the generated sWEEE. However, the most relevant fractions for precious metals in absolute are mobile phones, personal computers, large high-grade and low-grade equipment. Mobile phones and personal computers contain over 50% of the palladium. The main differences between the German and the US flows are: ‘Mobile phones’, ‘personal computers’ and ‘high-grade equipment’ contribute to a higher mass fraction of the sWEEE in the USA (around 25%) than in Germany (around 16%); Consequently, the flows of precious metals per capita associated with sWEEE are higher in the USA than in Germany. The sWEEE generated by an average person in the USA in 2007 contained four times more precious metals than the sWEEE generated by an average person in Germany, although the quantity of sWEEE generated per capita is “only” higher by a factor 2.5;
6. Discussion of the results of the SFA 99 In the USA, personal computers contribute to almost half of the palladium and around 40% of the gold contained in the generated sWEEE. This is much higher than in Germany, where PCs contribute to around 19% of the gold load and around a quarter of the palladium load. Mass Gold Palladium Germany 0.3% 3.3% 25.4% 20.9% 19.3% 30.1% 34.3% 2.9% 49.5% 4.1% 18.8% 16.0% 0.4% 12.2% Total: 4.9 kg/cap 26.9% 3.9% Total: 26.1 mg/cap 6.0% 25.7% Total: 7.9 mg/cap USA 0.4% 10.7% 39.4% 35.4% 5.5% 12.4% 18.4% 11.0% 9.1% 4.7% 23.0% 20.6% 4.5% 0.6% 13.4% Total: 12.3 kg/cap Legend: 3.1% 40.0% Total: 101.6 mg/cap Mobile phones Desktop personal computer CRT monitor Large high-grade equipment Small high-grade equipment Low-grade equipment 47.7% Total: 35.4 mg/cap Figure 30 Comparison of the relevance of the different equipment groups in the generated sWEEE in terms of mass, quantity of gold and quantity of palladium in Germany and in the USA in 2007 For all equipment groups except low-grade equipment, the theoretical generation in Germany (see chapter 4.1.1.2) was significantly higher than the generation calculated by data reconciliation, based on the sum of the quantities of sWEEE collected separately and disposed of together with residual waste (Figure 31). The discrepancy between theoretical generation and actually collected waste flows was reported by Hagelüken (2006a), Huisman
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ITU-Schriftenreihe, 2010 Institut f
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Bibliografische Information Der Deu
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Kurzfassung Die Nachfrage nach Edel
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Composition of the doctoral thesis
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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 127 and 128: References 127 Binder 2007 BITKOM 2
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Page 139 and 140: References 139 StEP 2009 Stevels 20
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Appendices 161 Appendix 10 Flows of
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