Genanvendelse af kritiske metaller i elskrot (WEEE) i EU

Kemiens dag 16.November 2011

Christian Fischer

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Lack of access to critical metals- a threat and a challenge for the EU? Limited access to critical metals is expected to

limit future economic and technological development

Some metals are critical for emerging technologies such as renewable energy systems (solar energy, windmills etc)

Recycling of critical metals, if promoted, can be an important supply for Europe

Recycling as a substantial part of a green(er) economy –job creation

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Value of EU internal and overseas trade in recyclables, 2000–2010

Value of EU internal and overseas trade in recyclables, 2000–2010

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Millio

ns of

Euro

Iron and steel waste

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Millio

ns of

Euro

Al, Cu and Ni waste

0500

1000150020002500300035004000

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Millio

ns o

f E

uro

Import into the EU Export out of the EU Export within the EU

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Value of EU internal and overseas trade in recyclables, 2000–20102000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Millio

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f Eur

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Precious metal waste

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010Mi

llions

of E

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Other metals waste

0500

1000150020002500300035004000

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Millio

ns o

f E

uro

Import into the EU Export out of the EU Export within the EU

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Global demand for critical metals

0

50

100

150

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450

Inde

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Metal

Emerging technologies' demand for rare metals. Index compared to current production (100)

2006

2030

Source: based on ISI/IZT (2009) and Elsner et al. (2010).

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EEA project- Critical metals in WEEE This project focuses on 13 critical metals in EEE, Critical metals are defined based on the security of

supply and the demand for each metal, In which components and products do we particularly

find the critical metals? What is the potential amount of the 13 critical metals

which could be recycled from these waste products 2011-2025?

What are in fact the current losses? What can we do to improve the recycling

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The selected metals and products Metals:

Coltan, Indium, Lithium, Silver, Tantalum, Tellurium, Tungsten, Beryllium, Gallium, Germanium, Gold, Palladium, Ruthenium

Products: Mobile phones PCs Desktop Laptop/ Netbook/ Tablet Flatscreen image displays LCD TV LCD Monitor Plasma TV Thin film solar power converter Cadmiumtelluride (CdTe) Copper-

Indium-Selenide (CIS) Copper-Indium-Gallium-Diselenide (CIGS) Amorphous (non-crystalline) silicon

Thick film solar power converter Monocrystaline silicon Polycrystaline silicon

Rechargeable batteries

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Challenges in the project

Very difficult to get information about: Sales volume, Specific content of critical metals in the selected

products, Where in the products it is located, The producers of components and products do not

have or are not willing to share this information The project will be finalised in March 2012

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Weight and value – Plasma TV

Plasma TV Weight Value Silver 450mg $0.06 Gold 30mg $0.17 Copper 350.45g $4.91 Aluminium 255.3g $0.74 Tin 31.318g $0.09 Palladium 21mg $0.06

$5.97Source. Bill Skeates, DIGITAL EUROPE

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Total WEEE for the EU Generation: 7-8 million tonnes in 2008 (estimate)

Collection: 3.1 million tonnes in 2008 Treated: 2.6 million tonnes in 2008

Collection/treatment rate: Maximum 40% ! Export of WEEE out of EU disguised as old

products: 0.3-0.5 million tonnes EEE put on the market in 2008 = 10 mill. tonnes

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3 weaknesses in existing recycling of WEEE and critical metals

1. The rate of collected WEEE in the EU is insufficient,

2. Too much WEEE is exported as used products out of the EU,

3. The efficiency of the recycling process (dismantling, pre-processing, end-processing) is too low for critical metals.

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Det svageste led i kæden bestemmer den totale effektivitet

Eksempel 35% x 45% x 30% x 95% = 4%

Manual treatment in the dismantling and pre-processing secures better results but is more expensive

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Possible initiatives Improve the design of EEE,

Easier to re-use components Easier to dismantle and pre-process components, Eco Design Directive is to be reviewed in 2012

Standards for recycling of WEEE including critical metals, Better labelling about amount of critical metals and in which

components, New recycling technologies -dismantling and pre-processing, The Commission’s Roadmap to a Resource Efficient Europe, More focus on qualitative targets instead of quantitative

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Thank you for your attention

For more information please visit our website:

http://scp.eionet.europa.eu/

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Classification Symbol ApplicationAlkali Li Battery

Mg LCD protective film, flourescent substance, window glassSr LCD window glassBa Condencer

Semi-metal As dielectric substance, flourescent substance, LCDSb Thermoelectricity deviceBi Lead free solderTe Thermoelectricity deviceSn LCDSi Chip for mobilephone(Frequency select)

Ferometal Co BatteryNi Battery, component of camera

Poor Metals Ga LED, Optoelectronic device, IC chip, TransistorIn LCD, Semi-con wafer, TV

High melting point Ti Condenser, ThermistorZr LCD glassNb VCR, TV, Camera/copier lenseTa CondenserMo SemiconductorW BatteryMn Battery

Rare earth metal Ce abrasive for semiconductorNd Speaker, HDD Eu LCD flourescent substanceTb LCD flourescent substanceDy MagnetY LCD flourescent substance

Platinum metal Pt CondenserRu ResistorPd CondenserRh Condenser

Critical metals in Electronics

Source. Bill Skeates, DIGITAL EUROPE

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Correlation between the consumption of a resource and the recycling of the corresponding waste stream – Current consumption is 100%

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%

Waste material

How much can recycling contribute to consumption?

Current contribution

Potential contribution