Tracking Global Flows of E-Waste Additives by Using Substance Flow Analysis, with a Case Study in China

Abstract

The ongoing process of globalization and global trade of products have been an important topic in media as well as in social and economic science. Overlaid by the well-known global trade pathways for feedstock and products, a reverse flow of end-of-life products has been happening for many years. This is especially true for the case of electric and electronic equipment (WEEE). Global flows of WEEE occurred to become an emerging topic of waste management in the past two decades. E-Waste has to be distinguished from materials like paper or PET-bottles, although their recycling is of environmental concern as well. WEEE is not directly recyclable but needs to be processed in several steps to extract the valuable material to be recycled. Several research projects have been carried out on the global flow of WEEE, all suffering from scarce and scattered data and a lack of uniform labelling. To assess the volume of e-waste shipped around the world, an extensive literature research has been carried out. The tool of substance flow analysis (SFA) has been identified as valuable instrument to track global WEEE trade. Data from the e-waste flows have been combined with literature-based chemical data on lead (Pb) and brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and with information on the material composition of WEEE. Several levels of e-waste trade have been addressed: from a global view down to the country level of China to finally focus on a case study of a municipality (Guiyu, China). The processes of informal recycling in China and Guiyu have been introduced to assess the releases of hazardous substances to the environment. The release stages have then been prepared for further use in environmental modelling presented in the chapter “Human and Environmental Impact Produced by E-waste Releases at Guiyu Region (China)” to be found in this publication.