The fate and management of high mercury-containing lamps from high technology industry

Abstract

This study investigated the fate and management of high mercury-contained lamps, such as cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs), ultraviolet lamps (UV lamps), and super high pressure mercury lamps (SHPs), from high technology industries in Taiwan, using material flow analysis (MFA) method. Several organizations, such as Taiwan Environmental Protection Administration, Taiwan External Trade Development Council, the light sources manufactories, mercury-containing lamps importer, high technology industrial user, and waste mercury-containing lamps treatment facilities were interviewed in this study. According to this survey, the total mercury contained in CCFLs, UV lamps, and SHPs produced in Taiwan or imported from other countries was 886 kg in year 2004. Among the various lamps containing mercury, 57 kg mercury was exported as primary CCFLs, 7 kg mercury was wasted as defective CCFLs, and 820 kg mercury was used in the high technology industries, including 463 kg mercury contained in exported industrial products using CCFLs as components. On the contrary, only 59 kg of mercury was exported, including 57 kg in CCFLs and 2 kg in UV lamps. It reveals that 364 kg mercury was consumed in Taiwan during year 2004. In addition, 140 kg of the 364 kg mercury contained in lamps used by high technology industry was well treated through industrial waste treatment system. Among the waste mercury from high technology industry, 80 kg (57%), 53 kg (38%), and 7 kg (5%) of mercury were through domestic treatment, offshore treatment, and emission in air, respectively. Unfortunately, 224 kg waste mercury was not suitable treated, including 199 kg mercury contained in CCFL, which is a component of monitor for personal computer and liquid crystal display television, and 25 kg non-treated mercury. Thus, how to recover the mercury from the waste monitors is an important challenge of zero wastage policy in Taiwan.