Fate of metals contained in waste electrical and electronic equipment in a municipal waste treatment process.

摘要: In Japan, waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) that is not covered by the recycling laws are treated as municipal solid waste. A part of common metals recovered during treatment; however, other rarely their destinations clear. This study investigated distribution ratios substance flows 55 contained in WEEE treatment using shredding separation techniques at a Japanese plant. The results revealed more than half Cu most Al end up landfills or dissipate under current system. Among WEEE, least 70% mass was distributed to small-grain fraction through be landfilled. Most kinds were concentrated several fold process therefore may next target for recovery terms both metal content amount. Separate collection pre-sorting small digital products can work effective way reducing precious less landfilled some extent; much total masses those would still it also important consider how recover utilize such audio/video equipment.