Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment - Problems and Perspectives

摘要

The production of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) is one of the fastest growing manufacturing industries in the world. Technological innovation and market expansion accelerate the replacement process, and new applications of electrical and electronic equipment are increasingly significant. The resulting rapid growth of waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is of environmental concern because it contains hazardous substances. For Europe two legal regulations point the way ahead. The Directive on Waste of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE Directive, 2002/96/EC) contains a framework for collection, reuse, recycling and recovery of WEEE. The Directive on the Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (RoHS Directive, 2002/95/EC) prohibits the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment. Reliable data about the composition and treatment costs of WEEE come from investigation of current literature as well as from direct inquiry in relevant companies. Technical schemes of different WEEE fractions recovery illustrate WEEE treatment according to the state of the art. Some new ideas to improve the sustainability of EEE production and WEEE handling are presented. The general idea is to increase the products' lifetime by improving reparability and the possibilities of technical upgrading. For that reason a modular product conception may be the solution for the future.