SUMMARY This technical report presents analytical data and information related to: The characteristics of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment WEEE (composition, hazardous substances/materials, potential environmental impacts) The European and Cypriot legislative framework concerning the management of WEEE The existing situation related to the management of WEEE in European countries. The current procedures followed in Cyprus with regards to the import and license of vehicles as well as the practices that are applied for the management of the WEEE. The actors and Authorities involved directly and indirectly in the generation and management of WEEE in Cyprus. Synoptically: Composition of WEEE The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment constitutes a complicate waste stream due to the fact that: i. a wide range of raw materials are used for the production of Electric and Electronic Equipment (EEE) and ii. a vast number of different EEE are produced and promoted to the market. Table 1 summarizes the main categories of EEE, Table 1: Main categories of EEE 1 Large household appliances 2 Small household appliances 3 Informatics and Telecommunication (IT) equipment 4 Consuming products 5 Lamps 6 Electric and electronic tools 7 Entertainment equipment 8 Medical equipment i
9 Monitoring and control instruments 10 Devices of automatic distribution Each of the category presented above includes a significant number of individual products which at the ending of their life cycle become WEEE. Figure 1 presents the contribution of each one of the main categories of WEEE in the total production of the waste stream, while Table 2 illustrates a typical composition of WEEE. lamps 1% telecoms 1% toys 1% radio, TV, audio 8% monitoring and control 1% tools 3% large household appliances 43% IT equipment 39% small household appliances 3% Figure 1: Origin of WEEE ii
Table 2. Typical composition of WEEE (%) Equipment category Ferrous Non-ferrous Glass Plastics Other Large household appliances Small household appliances 61% 7% 3% 9% 20% 19% 1% 0% 48% 32% IT equipment 43% 0% 4% 30% 20% Telecoms 13% 7% 0% 74% 6% TV, Radio, etc. 11% 2% 35% 31% 22% Gas discharge lamps 2% 2% 89% 3% 3% Hazardous substances/materials of WEEE A part of the materials that are used for the production of the EEE is considered as hazardous. In the following, the main hazardous substances/materials of EEE are presented. Parts that contains Polychlorinated Biphenyls - ΡCΒs Parts that contain mercury (switch) Batteries that contain Pb, Cd, Hg Printed circuit boards that contain BFRs and heavy such as Be Inks and dyes Plastics that contain BFRs Parts that contain asbestos Cathodic lamps that contain Pb and phosphorous Mercury vapor lamps Parts with ceramic fire resistant fibres Electrolytic capacitors that contain hazardous substances (glycols and amines) iii
Environmental impacts As mentioned above, a portion of the substances/materials that are used for the production of EEE and are contained in WEEE is considered as hazardous. The application of inappropriate practices for the management of WEEE such as: i. abandonment of WEEE ii. disposal to landfill sites iii. inefficient procedures during their management (de-pollution, dismantling, separation and landfilling of residues) iv. incineration can lead to the release of these substances/materials to the environment, causing significant negative environmental impacts. Also, when practices for the recovery, reuse and recycling of materials from the ELVs are not applied, loss of raw materials and energy exist. Table 3 summarizes the main environmental impacts that could be occurred from the inappropriate management of WEEE. Table 3: Environmental impacts from WEEE Substance/material Impact Printed circuit boards Abandonment of materials at dismantling sites: and plastics that contain Soil pollutionρύπανση εδάφους BFRs (DBPE, OBPE, TBBPA) and heavy Emissions of organics and heavy to the atmosphere developed at landfill sites They are non biodegradable substances Pollution of soil by corrosion of and leaching of organics Potential transfer to surface and underground waters iv
Parts that contain asbestos. Threat for the habitats of the landfill area Incineration: Air emissions that contain HBr και other Br substances Ash containing Br substances Air emissions that contain particles of heavy Ash that contains heavy Wastewater that are generated during the treatment of the air emissions containing heavy Nickel and other act as a catalyst for the creation of dioxins during incineration Abandonment at dismantling sites: Soil pollution Transfer of fibers of asbestos to the atmosphere developed at landfill sites due to releasing of Asbestos is not subjected to degradation (non biodegradable) Pollution of soil through leaching procedures Potential transfer to surface and underground waters v
Plasticizers that contains phthalic esters Switches, measurement devices, thermostats, batteries and medical devices that contain mercury Incineration: Asbestos is not subjected to combustion but remains in the ash Abandonment at dismantling sites:: Soil pollution Transfer of organic compounds to the atmosphere though the evaporation of esters developed at landfill sites due to releasing of organics Phthalic esters are not subjected to degradation (non biodegradable) Pollution of soil through leaching procedures Potential transfer to surface and underground waters Incineration: Air emissions that contain organics (from the esters) De-pollution procedures - Abandonment at dismantling sites: Soil pollutionρύπανση εδάφους Emissions of mercury to the atmosphere vi
Electronic connections that contain Be (Be alloys and oxides) developed at landfill sites Obstruction of the natural circulation of water at the Pollution of soil by leaching of mercury Potential transfer of mercury to surface and underground waters Incineration: Air emissions that contain mercury Ash containing mercury substances Air emissions that contain particles of mercury Wastewater that are generated during the treatment of the air emissions containing mercury Procedures of melting of scrap in electric arc furnace Emissions of mercury to the atmosphere Abandonment at dismantling sites: Soil pollutionρύπανση εδάφους developed at landfill sites Pollution of soil by leaching of Be Potential transfer of Be to surface and underground waters vii
Metal parts Incineration Air emissions that contain Be Ash containing Be substances Air emissions that contain particles of Be Wastewater that are generated during the treatment of the air emissions containing Be Abandonment of materials at dismantling sites: Soil pollution Transfer of metal particles to the atmosphere Problems in the operation of the landfill site developed at landfill sites Obstruction of the natural circulation of water at the Pollution of soil through corrosion procedures Potential transfer of heavy to surface and underground waters Αποτέφρωση: Air emissions that contain heavy Ash containing substances of heavy Air emissions that contain particles of heavy Wastewater that are generated during the treatment of the air emissions containing heavy Nickel and cooper act as a catalyst for the viii
Electrolytic capacitors that contain glycols and amines. Parts that contain chromium (it is used as anti-corrosive substance in cooling systems) creation of dioxins during incineration Abandonment of materials at dismantling sites:: Soil pollution Transfer of organics and nitrogen compounds to the atmosphere through evaporation procedures developed at landfill sites due to releasing of They are not subjected to degradation (non biodegradable) and could react with other substances for the creation of new hazardous products i.e. chloramines Pollution of soil through leaching procedures Potential transfer to surface and underground waters Incineration: Air emissions that contain organics and nitrogen compounds Abandonment of materials at dismantling sites:: Soil pollution Emissions of chromium to the atmosphere Problems in the operation of the landfill site ix
Chloroparaffins cables in developed at landfill sites Obstruction of the natural circulation of water at the Pollution of soil through corrosion procedures Potential transfer of chromium to surface and underground waters Αποτέφρωση: Air emissions that contain chromium Ash containing substances of chromium Air emissions that contain particles of chromium Wastewater that are generated during the treatment of the air emissions containing chromium developed at landfill sites due to releasing of They are not subjected to degradation (non biodegradable) Pollution of soil through leaching procedures Potential transfer to surface and underground waters Incineration: Air emissions that contain organics and chloride compounds x
Plastics Parts that contain PCBs Problems in the operation of the landfill site developed at landfill sites due to releasing of Obstruction of the natural circulation of water at the Plastics are not subjected to degradation (mainly non biodegradable) Pollution of soil through leaching procedures Incineration Air emissions that contain organic compounds Abandonment of catalysts at dismantling sites: Soil pollution Transfer of PCBs that contain heavy to the atmosphere developed at landfill sites due to releasing of organochlorinate compounds They are not subjected to degradation (non biodegradable) Pollution of soil through leaching procedures Potential transfer of PCBs to surface and xi
Adhesives and paints and parts that are coated by dyes underground waters Incineration: Air emissions that contain organics and chloride compounds Abandonment at dismantling sites: Soil pollution Transfer of organic compounds to the atmosphere through evaporation procedures developed at landfill sites due to releasing of They are not subjected to degradation (non biodegradable) Pollution of soil through leaching procedures Potential transfer to surface and underground waters Incineration: Air emissions of organic substances Legislative framework for the management of ELVs In this report, the European legislative framework related to the management of WEEE is presented and analysed in detail. For WEEE, the basis are the Directive 2002/95/EC on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (EEE), the Directive 2002/96/EC on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) and the Directive 2003/108/EC amending Directive 2002/96/EC. The Directive 2002/96/EC and its amendement 2003/108/EC are needed to tackle the fast increasing xii
waste stream of electrical and electronic equipment and complements European Union measures on landfill and incineration of waste. Increased recycling of electrical and electronic equipment will limit the total quantity of waste going to final disposal. Producers will be responsible for taking back and recycling electrical and electronic equipment. This will provide incentives to design electrical and electronic equipment in an environmentally more efficient way, which takes waste management aspects fully into account. Consumers will be able to return their equipment free of charge. Also, this Directive provides directions and guidelines for the design of the electrical and electronic equipment, the separate collection and treatment of the WEEE, the recovery of WEEE parts for reuse and recycling, the information of the users of electrical and electronic equipment about their responsibilities, as well as for the reporting obligations of the member states to the EC related to the progress of the implementation of the Directive s provisions. In order to prevent the generation of hazardous waste, Directive 2002/95/EC requires the substitution of various heavy (lead, mecury, cadmium, and hexavalent chromium) and brominated flame retardants (polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) or polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)) in new electrical and electronic equipment put on the market from 1 July 2006. Also, the Cypriot legislative framework concerning the management of ELVs is presented and analysed in detail. In particular, the management of ELVs is governed by the Regulation 68/2004 on Electrical and Electronic Equipment. This Law harmonizes the Cypriot legislation in the field with the European one (Directive 2002/96/EC, the Directive 2003/108/EC amending Directive 2002/96/EC and the Directive 2002/95/EC) Existing situation concerning the management of WEEE Management of WEEE in European countries The practices that are applied at European level for the management of WEEE are recorded and analysed. The aim is to obtain a complete picture on the alternative systems that are applied as well as to utilize the experience gained from the operation of these systems for the purposes of the KYPROS project. In specific, data information from the xiii
following countries are given: England, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Denmark, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden, Finland, Hungary and Poland. Management of ELVs in Cyprus The current situation related to the individual stages of the life cycle of the EEE, from their entering to the market until their disposal as WEEE is recorded and analysed in detail. In particular, data and information are given on the procedures and practices that are applied for: Native production of EEE Import of EEE Maintenance and repairing of EEE Management of WEEE Separate collection of WEEE Recovery of materials from WEEE Controlled final disposal of WEEE Uncontrolled final disposal of WEEE According to the analysis that is carried out, the following points could be remarked: The country has the institutional and administrative structures for the development of the appropriate management schemes/systems Integrated schemes/systems for the collection and management of WEEE do not exist. Licensed installations for the temporary storage and treatment of WEEE do not exist A small portion of WEEE is collected separately from the mixed municipal solid waste but its storage takes place in non licensed sites A part of WEEE is disposed to non licensed sites or it is abandoned uncontrollably. A significant lack is determined concerning the information and awareness of the public on issues related to WEEE. xiv
Actors and authorities involved in the field All the actors and authorities that are involved in the generation and management of ELVs in Cyprus as well as their responsibilities are recorded. In particular: a. Authorities and actors involved directly in the management of WEEE: Environmental Service (Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment) It involves in the management of WEEE through the following: o It is the responsible authority for the harmonization of Cypriot legislation with the European one, concerning the WEEE o It is the responsible authority for the implementation of the provisions of the Law of 2002 on Solid and Hazardous Waste o Provision of the permit for the construction and operation of systems and plants for the management of WEEE - Setting of the environmental terms Consultative Committee for the Management of Waste The Committee pronounce to the Environmental Service in issues related to the permitting of plants for the management of WEEE. Also, it is the main pronounced Authority for setting the technical specifications for the management of WEEE. Importers, retailers, and transporters of electrical and electronic equipment They involved in the development of the appropriate schemes for the management of WEEE. b. Authorities and actors involved indirectly in the management of WEEE Recyclers They constitute small quantities of WEEE and they could contribute in the development of the appropriate schemes for the management of WEEE (in collaboration with importers and retailers) Department of Urban Planning (Ministry of Interior) The Department is the responsible Authority for the provision of the Urban Planning permit that is necessary for the construction of any plant xv
Local Authorities (Municipalities and Communities) The representative of the local authorities express their opinion to the Consultative Committee for the Management of Waste, where they participate (without the right of voting). Scientific and Technical Chamber of Cyprus It comprises the legal consultant of the Government in technical issues Federation of Employers and Manufacturers It will participate in the Organisation that is planned to be established in order to undertake the management of the high priority waste streams in Cyprus. Association of Importers of Electrical and Electronic Equipment It coordinates the activities of the importers of Electrical and Electronic Equipment Association of Recyclers It coordinate the activities of the recyclers Statistic Service of Cyprus (Ministry of Financial) The Statistic Service collects data related to the imported and exported electrical and electronic equipment (types and quantities of equipment, price of equipment etc.) Customhouse (Ministry of Financial) It records the quantities of electrical and electronic equipment that is imported or exported. xvi