Pollutants Release and Control during WEEE Recycling: A Critical Review☆

Abstract With the rapid development of science and technology especially in the ICT industry all over the world, WEEE has been considered to be one of the most important waste streams during the last decade and will continue to be so in the future. WEEE contains valuable metals as well as potential environmental contaminants so recycling E-waste is an indirect way to reuse valuable resources. In case that it is simple to dismantle the machines and almost all the E-waste consists components like PCBs and CRTs, this paper puts emphasis on the processes of dismantling and recovering resources from PCBs and CRTs as an example for their widely usage. Universal recycling processes for PCBs and CRTs are introduced briefly and pollutants released during the processes are dust and waste water mainly. Measures are proposed to control the pollution, for instance, the shredder and grinders could be isolated during the physical process and it is suggested that personal protective devices such as masks are used to reduce the exposure level to heavy metals. Secondary pollution during the recycling process is inevitable, Thus cleaner technology is urgent to come into service. Although recycling may remove some contaminants, large amounts which are difficult to disposed ought to be concentrated in landfills.