Liquid Crystal Displays: Material Content and Recycling Practices

摘要

Liquid crystal displays (LCD) are rapidly replacing traditional cathode ray tubes (CRT) as a more effective option. Due to the steady increase in LCDs since the mid 1990s, a significant and ever rising amount of disposed LCD is to be expected in the following years. The WEEE Directive, the result of a rising concern about environmental and health risks posed by end of life electronics, requires WEEE to be recovered and LCDs larger than 100 cm~2 to be treated separately due to their potential hazardous material content. The article will evaluate the development of LCD material content and recycling practices in Finland, in light of the RoHS and WEEE Directives.