'CONSUMER ELECTRONICS APPLIANCES COLLECTION AND DEMANUFACTURING - PROVIDING A QUANTITATIVE MEASURE OF ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS'

摘要

Consumer Electronics Appliances Collection and Demanufacturing Providing a Quantitative Measure of Environmental Benefits A consumer electronics appliance (CEA) demanufacturing program was conducted by the Union County Utilities Authority, which was sponsored by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Region II. This program began in December 1996 and was completed by February 2002. It consisted of three distinct activities: A CEA collection and demanufacturing program with Union County (New Jersey) municipalities, a research effort to estimate the amount of certain heavy metals reclaimed through demanufacturing and a research study to assess greenhouse gas (GHG) savings from recycling the plastics stream. During the course of this program, approximately 30,329 CEA's were collected from households and small businesses located in Union County. CEA appliance factors, developed by Princeton University through this study, were used to estimate heavy metal recovery through demanufacturing. Lead alone accounted for approximately 4.4 tons while mercury and cadmium recoveries were estimated at 0.5 pounds and 42 pounds respectively. The recovery of these materials resulted in preventing their disposal with conventional waste at landfills or resource recovery facilities where impacts can occur. The recycling and reuse of plastics associated with this program also provided a direct environmental benefit through the reduction of GHG emissions. Through GHG factors developed by the New Jersey Institute of Technology through this program, savings from 140 to 192 metric tons, depending on plastic quality, were estimated for only a portion of the waste collected. This program clearly demonstrates on a quantitative basis the environmental benefits of carrying out CEA demanufacturing. This work should be refined and expanded to include other electronic and electrical appliances. Clearly, these results have the potential for use in other sectors of the country because of the widespread distribution of these appliances.