Quantifying WEEE arising in scrap metal collections: Method development and application in Ireland

Abstract

Quantifying waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) not arising in documented and formal WEEE collection is a major challenge. This paper presents a method to characterize and estimate quantities of WEEE arising in scrap metal. Two European Catalogue List of Waste, codes 17 04 05, construction and demolition wastes—iron and steel and 20 01 40, metals separated out from municipal, household, commercial, and industrial waste, were analyzed on arrival to scrap metal sites. Metal scrap originated from household and business sources and excluded end-of-life vehicles and batteries. The point of sampling eliminated risks of double counting. Four representative sites across Ireland were surveyed over the course of 1 year. UNU-Keys were used to assign estimated masses based on identification of WEEE items as they arrived in loads entering scrap metal sites. In total, 415 tonnes of metal scrap were sampled and 747 individual WEEE items were identified. It is estimated that 3.91% ± 1.88% of the mass sampled was WEEE equating to 2.28 kg/capita. Although large equipment dominated the count and mass-based assessments of untreated WEEE in metal scrap, 35% of items identified were classified as small equipment. Professional equipment made up 29% of the estimated mass and 25% of WEEE items observed. Policy makers tasked with enhancing WEEE collection rates need to consider interventions targeting construction, demolition, and renovation, especially planning so that impending WEEE items such as photovoltaic panels are appropriately treated in the future. This article met the requirements for a gold–silver JIE data openness badge described in http://jie.click/badges.