The growing trend toward minimizing our environmental footprint is spurring activity in all industry sectors. And electronic waste or e-waste is no exception. In Canada, e-waste programs fall under the jurisdiction of the provinces and are fast becoming commonplace.
HOW BIG IS THE MARKET?
The United Nations pegs the total amount of e-waste generated globally as between 20 and 50 million tons each year, with very little of that currently being reused or recycled. Environment Canada believes the amount of e-waste disposed of nationwide in 2002 was close to 158,000 tonnes, and it anticipates the number will increase 30 percent by 2010. Although the breadth of electronic devices grouped under e-waste may change slightly from province to province and country to country, suffice it to say that the category basically includes everything from large household appliances such as refrigerators and air conditioners to cellular phones, personal appliances, computers and consumer electronics. Of particular concern is the fast pace of the technical revolution – which is making some of the devices destined to end up as e-waste obsolete in as little as six months. Of further concern are the hazardous materials used in the construction of electronics – namely lead, cadmium and mercury. These factors contribute to the ever-growing amount of e-waste, and help make it a category which is notably different from the municipal waste typically handled in traditional waste management systems.
THE E-WASTE SOLUTION
Back in 2004, the Canadian consumer electronics and IT industries founded an industry association dedicated to designing and developing harmonized stewardship programs across the country for the waste electronic products. Electronic Product Stewardship Canada (EPSC) believes there should be a “handling fee” paid by consumers at the time of purchase to cover the cost of the electronic goods disposal. This model is pretty much in place across the country, with the exception of a few provinces still in the implementation stages. Handling fees typically range from $5 for a notebook computer, to $10 for a desktop, to $8 for a printer, $12 for a monitor and between $14 to $45 for a television depending on its size.
Alberta was the first Canadian province to launch an e-waste program. Since its inception in 2004, Electronics Recycling Alberta has processed more than 11,000 tonnes of e-waste, and collects more than 10,000 items a month. Saskatchewan launched its Saskatchewan Waste Electronic Equipment Program (SWEEP) in 2007 and collected over 1,350 tonnes of e-waste during the first year. In B.C. the Electronics Stewardship Association launched in August 2007, and has since recycled over 4,200 tonnes of e-waste.
Both Ontario and Quebec are in the process of launching their respective programs. In Ontario, the final program is awaiting ministerial approval, while Quebec is still tabling proposals.
Last year, Manitoba set up temporary collection sites for e-waste at four depot locations and 26 communities throughout the province. The program collected more than 305,000 kilograms of materials, and the province is repeating the program again this year. On the east coast, New Brunswick is close to introducing a program, as are P.E.I. and Newfoundland. Nova Scotia was the first of the Atlantic provinces to implement an e-waste recycling program. Atlantic Canada Electronics Stewardship (ACES) launched.
THE PLASTICS COMPONENT
E-waste recycling is good for capturing valuable metals from old electronic equipment, but the plastic materials left behind don’t warrant the same financial compensation plastics are used primarily in the product housings or cases. They represent around 20 percent of the product by weight and are integral to the design of the device. The segregation and recycling of the different plastic materials (three resins represent approximately 95 percent of the total plastics used) is getting easier – technology now enables plastic materials to be identified and separated. Some of the plastics currently used however, possess the further complication of being treated with fl ame retardants to make them more fire-resistant. These plastics are typically those that are exposed to high internal heat, like the ones found on printed circuit products, housings and connection cables. Although recycling these types of plastics is a bit more challenging, there is a lot of promise in their use as an energy source in modern energy recovery plants. Like all plastics, they possess a high btu value and can act as a valuable fuel supplement in feedstocks. These plastics can also be used as a reducing agent in metal recovery and refining operations.
INTEREST IN E-WASTE RECYCLING IS ON THE RISE
The increasing interest in e-waste recycling – being fuelled in part by regulations from provincial bodies – is one that mirrors the growing trend toward creating a greener environment. Being able to divert these valuable materials from landfills and recycle them in an efficient and environmentally sound manner is an added bonus. And it’s contributing to a global e-waste processing industry that is estimated to represent US$30 billion – and growing. Cathy Cirko is the vice president of not just buying a machine, environment and buying a solution health, Canadian Plastics Industry Association, and is director general of the Environment and Plastics Industry Council.
Reference: http://www.baumpub.com/
