Abstract The production and use of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) have significantly increased during the last three decades due to technological innovations and new applications of EEE. Fast technological progress, EEE becoming a part of everyday life and rising incomes have led to the situation where EEE are more replaceable than ever causing the rapid growth of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). In order to reduce negative environmental and health impacts and to improve the recovery of valuable substances from WEEE, the European Union has implemented Directives related to EEE. In this thesis, the national implementation of the WEEE Directive and the development of the WEEE recovery infrastructure in Finland were studied. Furthermore, consumers’ awareness and perceptions toward the WEEE recovery system were assessed through a survey conducted in the Oulu region. Finally, the role of consumer behaviour in storing electronics at home and its impact on the realisation of the waste hierarchy were considered. Results indicate that the implementation of the WEEE Directive has succeeded in Finland. The legislative basis and functional WEEE recovery system with high collection and recovery rates have been enacted within a few years. The study revealed that consumers’ awareness of the importance and existence of WEEE recovery system is high among the residents in Oulu; however, the high storing rates of mobile phones indicate that the proximity and the convenience of the WEEE recovery system are inadequate to motivate the return of small WEEE. Analysing the lifespan of electronics indicates that stockpiling deprives the re-use potential of mobile phones and thus hinders waste prevention. Storage also delays the return of valuable substances for recycling and risks the realisation of the waste management hierarchy. It is concluded that education and awareness raising will continue to be a crucial element in the progress towards a more environmentally conscious WEEE recovery in Finland. / Tiivistelmä Sähkö- ja elektroniikkalaitteiden (SE-laitteiden) tuotanto ja käyttö ovat kasvaneet merkittävästi viime vuosikymmenten aikana uusien teknologisten ratkaisujen ja sovellusten myötä. Nopea teknologinen kehitys, SE-laitteiden jokapäiväistyminen sekä elintason nousu ovat johtaneet tilanteeseen, jossa ne ovat helpommin vaihdettavissa kuin koskaan aikaisemmin. Tämän seurauksena myös sähkö- ja elektroniikkaromun (SE-romu, SER) määrä on nopeassa kasvussa. Vähentääkseen SE-romun aiheuttamia haitallisia ympäristö- ja terveysvaikutuksia sekä tehostaakseen hyödyllisten materiaalien talteenottoa SE-romusta Euroopan Unioni on ottanut käyttöön sähkö- ja elektroniikkalaitteisiin liittyviä direktiivejä. Tässä väitöskirjatutkimuksessa on tarkasteltu SER-direktiivin kansallista käyttöönottoa ja keräysverkoston kehittymistä Suomessa. Lisäksi kuluttajakäsitystä ja -tietoisuutta arvioitiin Oulun alueella toteutetulla kyselytutkimuksella. Työssä on arvioitu myös kuluttajien roolia käytöstä poistettujen SE-laitteiden kotivarastoinnissa ja sen vaikutuksia jätehierarkian toteutumiseen. Tulokset osoittavat, että kansallinen implementointi on onnistunut Suomessa; kansallinen lainsäädännöllinen perusta ja toimiva keräysjärjestelmä on saavutettu vain muutamassa vuodessa. Tutkimuksesta selviää, että kuluttajatietoisuus keräysjärjestelmän tärkeydestä ja sen olemassaolosta on hyvällä tasolla; matkapuhelinten korkea säilytysaste kotitalouksissa viittaa kuitenkin nykyisen järjestelmän riittämättömyyteen motivoida kuluttajia palauttamaan pientä SE-romua keräysjärjestelmään. SE-laitteiden elinkaaren vaikutusten tarkastelu osoittaa, että varastointi estää matkapuhelinten uudelleenkäyttöä ja estää jätteen synnyn ehkäisyä. Lisäksi se viivästyttää hyödyllisten materiaalien palautumista kierrätykseen vaarantaen myös jätehierarkian toteutumisen. Siksi koulutus ja tietoisuuden lisääminen ovat tärkeässä roolissa ympäristömyötäisemmän keräysjärjestelmän saavuttamiseksi Suomessa.

Polymers are subjected to physical and chemical changes during their processing, service life, and further recovery, and they may also interact with impurities that can alter their composition. These changes substantially modify the stabilisation mechanisms and mechanical properties of recycled polymers. The assessment of the quality properties of recycled polymers is therefore crucial to guarantee the performance of recyclates in further applications. Three key quality properties have been defined for this quality analysis: degree of mixing (composition), degree of degradation, and presence of low molecular weight compounds (degradation products, contaminants, additives). Furthermore, detailed knowledge about how the different stages of their life cycle affect the degree of degradation of polymeric materials is important when discussing their further waste recovery possibilities and the performance of recycled plastics. A dual-pronged experimental approach employing multiple processing and thermo-oxidation has been proposed to model the life cycle of recycled high-impact polystyrene (HIPS used in packaging applications, and electrical and electronic equipment (E&E). Both reprocessing and thermo-oxidative degradation are responsible for coexistent physical and chemical effects (chain scission, crosslinking, apparition of oxidative moieties, polymeric chain rearrangements, and physical ageing) on the microstructure and morphology of polybutadiene (PB) and polystyrene (PS) phases; these effects ultimately influence the long-term stability, and the rheological and mechanical behaviour of HIPS. The PB phase has proved to be the initiation point of HIPS degradation throughout the life cycle. Thermo-oxidation seems to have more severe effects on HIPS properties; therefore, it can be concluded that previous service life may be the part of the life cycle with the greatest influence on the recycling possibilities and performance of HIPS recyclates in second-market applicat / Vilaplana Domingo, FJ. (2008). Analytical strategies for the quality assessment of recycled high-impact polystyrene (HIPS) [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/2186

Le modèle de production et de consommation linéaire, qui se résume à: extraire, produire, utiliser puis jeter, menace la préservation de nos ressources naturelles, alors même que les Déchets d’Équipements Électriques et Électroniques (DEEE) constituent des « mines urbaines » riches en métaux de valeur. Les politiques publiques classiques des années 70, fondées sur une approche régalienne, se sont révélées inefficaces pour stimuler des démarches innovantes et collectives.Dans cette thèse, nous étudions une approche alternative fondée sur un principe de responsabilisation des producteurs, encadrés par une forme de co-régulation entre acteurs publics et privés. Alors que la responsabilité est souvent associée à une logique individuelle, qu’est-ce qu’une responsabilité collective? Plus encore, pour faire de la responsabilisation une technique politique de gouvernement, quels processus et instruments s’agit-il de mobiliser pour rendre des acteurs collectivement responsables?À travers le cas de la filière des DEEE, cette thèse propose des principes de la co-régulation. Nous nous appuyons sur la littérature sur les communs, où ont été discutées les conditions d’une gestion et d’une gouvernance collectives. La thèse repose sur une approche exploratoire, qualitative et longitudinale. Une analyse comparative au niveau européen permet une mise en perspective des propositions théoriques. / The Linear Economy is structured on: extraction, production, product use and landfill. This model prevails although it is a threat to the preservation of natural resources. Whereas, Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) constitute “Urban Mines” that are rich in valuable metals. Public policies from the 70s, based on regulatory constraints, have proved to be inefficient in instigating innovative and collective processes.In this thesis, we study an alternative approach based on the responsabilization of producers through co-regulated action between public and private actors. While responsibility is often linked to individualism, this work scrutinizes the substance of collective responsibility. Furthermore, in consideration of responsabilization as a mode of political governance, we examine the processes and the instruments which could be engaged to bestow collective responsibility on private actors.Through an exploratory, qualitative and longitudinal approach in the context of the WEEE sector, we propose new co-regulation principles. The research is based on the literature of the commons in which the conditions of a collective governance are discussed. The theoretical propositions are considered in the perspective of a comparative analysis at the European level.

O crescimento na geração de rejeitos de equipamentos elétricos e eletrônicos (REEE), legislações mais rigorosas e o valor agregado destes materiais incentivam o desenvolvimento de tecnologias de reciclagem. Contudo, a reciclagem dos componentes poliméricos dos REEE (CP-REEE) precisa superar desafios como a degradação durante o uso e reprocessamento, a presença de diferentes aditivos nos rejeitos e a depreciação de propriedades causada pela mistura não controlada de polímeros. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi desenvolver um estudo sobre a reciclagem mecânica na forma de blendas poliméricas de rejeitos do copolímero acrilonitrila-butadieno-estireno (ABS) e do poliestireno de alto impacto (HIPS), empregando agentes compatibilizantes. No desenvolvimento do trabalho foram realizadas a caracterização dos CP-REEE, análise das propriedades mecânicas, químicas, térmicas e morfológicas dos polímeros e das blendas de ABS/HIPS nas proporções de 1:3, 1:1 e 3:1 com variações na composição dos polímeros reciclados e virgens e por fim, realizado um estudo do envelhecimento foto-oxidativo acelerado de uma blenda ABS/HIPS. Os resultados mostraram que os polímeros ABS e HIPS reciclados ainda apresentam boas propriedades mecânicas e que a presença de agentes compatibilizantes provoca o aumento da tenacidade nas blendas ABS/HIPS. A incorporação de polímeros virgens nos materiais reciclados não promove ganho significativo nas propriedades mecânicas das blendas. Blendas com até 50% de ABS demonstraram ter propriedades próximas às do HIPS, enquanto as blendas com altos teores de ABS não alcançaram valores de propriedades mecânicas similares aos do ABS virgem. O comportamento das propriedades das blendas virgens e recicladas frente ao envelhecimento fotoquímico foi similar, indicando que o material reciclado apresenta grande potencial para aplicações. O estudo de blendas ABS/HIPS de CP-REEE demonstra que o controle da composição das blendas definem a sua aplicação. / The growth in waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) generation, directives more stringent and the aggregate value presents in these waste are encouraging the development of recycling technologies. However, recycling of polymeric components from WEEE (PC-WEEE) must overcome challenges such as degradation during use and reprocessing, the presence of various additives in the waste and the depreciation of properties caused by uncontrolled polymers mixture. The aim of this work was to develop a study of the mechanical recycling in the form blends with of polymeric waste of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer blends (ABS) and high impact polystyrene (HIPS) using compatibilizers. During the study was carried out the characterization of the PCWEEE and mechanical, chemical, thermal and morphological analysis of the polymers and the ABS / HIPS blends in proportions of 1:3, 1:1 and 3:1 with recycled and virgin polymers, as well as a study of the accelerated photo-oxidative aging of the ABS/HIPS blends. The results showed that ABS and HIPS recycled polymers still have good mechanical properties and the presence of compatibilization agents leads to increased toughness in ABS/HIPS blends. The incorporation of virgin polymers in recycled materials does not promote significant gain in the mechanical properties of the blends. Blends with up to 50% ABS have demonstrated to be closer to the HIPS, while blends with high content of ABS did not reach values of mechanical properties similar to the virgin ABS. The mechanical properties of virgin and recycled blends during the photochemical aging were similar, indicating that the recycled material has great potential for applications. The study of ABS/HIPS blends from PC-WEEE demonstrated that control of the blend composition establish their applications.

Le recyclage des déchets plastiques issus des déchets d'équipements électriques et électroniques (D3E) est devenu un enjeu majeur de nos sociétés afin de limiter leur impact environnemental. Le recyclage mécanique apparaît aujourd’hui comme une solution mature industriellement et adaptée pour produire de matières premières de recyclage (MPR). L’objectif de cette thèse est la compatibilisation de mélange de plastiques issus de la filière de tri des D3E en vue de leur valorisation par recyclage mécanique. La caractérisation des mélanges D3E par des analyses FT-IR, fluorescence-X, ATG et DSC a montré qu’il s’agissait de mélanges complexes contenant majoritairement des polymères styréniques et des polyoléfines et de faible pourcentage de PVC, PMMA, PC… Ces mélanges, mis en œuvre, présentent des propriétés mécaniques très faibles par rapport aux polymères techniques et de commodité. Ces résultats ont démontré la nécessité d’une compatibilisation de ces D3E en vue de leur transformation en MPR. Au vu de la complexité des mélanges, la compatibilisation in situ à l’aide de réactions radicalaires est apparue particulièrement prometteuse. Une première approche a consisté à générer les radicaux par irradiation puis, en deuxième approche, par ajout d’amorceurs chimiques. Ces deux approches n’ont pas produit d’améliorations significatives des propriétés. Suite à ces résultats, des essais de compatibilisation par ajout de copolymères ont été entrepris, conduisant à une amélioration importante des propriétés mécaniques. La réalisation de prototypes techniques, à partir de MPR compatibilisés, a été validée et permet de démontrer leur potentiel technique. / The recycling of the plastics from waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) has attracted great attention recently for environmental reasons. Mechanical recycling has emerged as the most economical, as well as the most energetic and ecologically efficient option. The aim of this work is the mechanical recycling of WEEE mixed plastic waste (MPW) streams. First, MPW composition has been evaluated by FT-IR and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopies, and ATG and DSC analyses. MPW are complex blend composed of thermoplastics, mainly styrenic polymers (ABS, HIPS, PS) and polyolefins. The remaining were other thermoplastics as PVC, PE, PMMA, PC…. After processing, these mixtures show very low mechanical properties compared to commodity and engineering thermoplastics. These results demonstrated that compatibilization is necessary to transform these D3E into secondary raw materials (SRM). In situ compatibilization using radical reactions appeared to be an attractive solution. Two pathways have been studied to generate the radicals, firstly, by electron beam radiation and, secondly, by adding chemical initiators. These two approaches didn’t show any substantial improvement in mechanical properties. Following these results, compatibilization by addition of reactive and non-reactive commercial copolymers were undertaken, leading to a significant improvement in mechanical properties. The production of technical prototypes and 3D printing wires from compatibilized SRM has been validated and allows considering an industrial development.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-10T10:46:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DIEGO DE CASTILHO SUCKOW MAGALHAES.pdf: 1368609 bytes, checksum: 5b7bf5336a8796459dad66c2db4b727d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-08-11 / This study has been dedicated to 􀁗􀁋􀁈􀀃 􀁕􀁈􀁖􀁈􀁄􀁕􀁆􀁋􀀃 􀁒􀁉􀀃 􀂳􀀨􀁑􀁙􀁌􀁕􀁒􀁑􀁐􀁈􀁑􀁗􀁄􀁏􀀃 􀀰􀁄􀁕􀁎􀁈􀁗􀂴􀀏􀀃 􀁉􀁒􀁕􀀃 􀁗􀁋􀁈􀀃 Master's Degree in Law, International Relations and Development, on Academic Master's Degree of the Pontifical Catholic University of Goiás and presents an 􀂳􀀲􀁙􀁈􀁕􀁙􀁌􀁈􀁚􀀃 􀁒􀁉􀀃 􀀨􀁏􀁈􀁆􀁗􀁕􀁌􀁆􀁄􀁏􀀃 􀁄􀁑􀁇􀀃 􀀨􀁏􀁈􀁆􀁗􀁕􀁒􀁑􀁌􀁆􀁖􀀃 􀀨􀁔􀁘􀁌􀁓􀁐􀁈􀁑􀁗􀀃 􀀺􀁄ste: electronics waste 􀂱 e- 􀁚􀁄􀁖􀁗􀁈􀂴􀀑􀀃􀀷􀁒􀁊􀁈􀁗􀁋􀁈􀁕􀀃􀁚􀁌􀁗􀁋􀀃􀁗􀁋􀁈􀀃􀁄􀁖􀁖􀁘􀁐􀁓􀁗􀁌􀁒􀁑􀀃􀁒􀁉􀀃􀁆􀁒􀁑􀁆􀁈􀁕􀁑􀀃􀁉􀁒􀁕􀀃􀁈􀁑􀁙􀁌􀁕􀁒􀁑􀁐􀁈􀁑􀁗􀁄􀁏􀀃􀁌􀁖􀁖􀁘􀁈􀁖􀀏􀀃􀁗􀁋􀁈􀀃􀁉􀁒􀁆􀁘􀁖􀀃􀁒􀁉􀀃 this scientific study is to identify the reality that permeates the waste of electronics internationally and nationally, combining the available data, identify the risks and to point out need for environmental management and the adequate way to handle ewaste, not only by the government but throughout society, primarily those involved in the production of electrical and electronic products. In face of the domestic and foreign situation will become clear that electronic products are discarded as scrap after its useful life, sometimes inappropriately, given the governmental omission of some States and the lack of specifications for the management and handling of e-waste. In this sense, it has been elucidated critical and positive aspects of domestic and foreign legal policies to the objects of analysis. It matters because the perception of how important the care of the e-waste and how large are the implications and consequences of improper waste management. Remain to be highlighted specific initiatives on recycling and final destination of e-waste for prevention of environmental pollution. And particularly with a view to environmental protection, enable to foster intelligible discussions to provide to government, business and society robust scientific evidence in order to effectuate the mechanisms of protection and control of disposal of electrical and electronic equipment waste. The methodology applied to the academic endeavor is a hypothetical-deductive effort, which is part of a rational analysis of specific and general factors in order to show the reality about the foreign and domestic electronic equipment waste, to emphasize the importance of adequate environment management waste of solid of this kind. / Esta pesquisa volta-􀁖􀁈􀀃 􀁪􀀃 􀁏􀁌􀁑􀁋􀁄􀀃 􀁇􀁈􀀃 􀁓􀁈􀁖􀁔􀁘􀁌􀁖􀁄􀀃 􀂳􀀰􀁈􀁕􀁆􀁄􀁇􀁒􀀃 􀀤􀁐􀁅􀁌􀁈􀁑􀁗􀁄􀁏􀂴􀀏􀀃 􀁇􀁒􀀃 􀀳􀁕􀁒􀁊􀁕􀁄􀁐􀁄􀀃 􀁇􀁈􀀃 Pós-Graduação em Direito, Relações Internacionais e Desenvolvimento, na modalidade Mestrado Acadêmico, da Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Goiás e apresenta 􀁘􀁐􀀃􀂳􀀳􀁄􀁑􀁒􀁕􀁄􀁐􀁄􀀃􀁇􀁒􀁖􀀃􀀵􀁈􀁖􀁴􀁇􀁘􀁒􀁖􀀃􀁇􀁈􀀃􀀨􀁔􀁘􀁌􀁓􀁄􀁐􀁈􀁑􀁗􀁒􀁖􀀃􀀨􀁏􀁰􀁗􀁕􀁌􀁆􀁒􀁖􀀃􀁈􀀃􀀨􀁏􀁈􀁗􀁕􀁻􀁑􀁌􀁆􀁒􀁖􀀝􀀃􀁒􀀃 lixo eletroeletrônico 􀂱 e-􀁏􀁌􀁛􀁒􀂴􀀑􀀃 A par do pressuposto de preocupação para com a questão ambiental, o foco do estudo científico está em identificar a realidade internacional e nacional que permeia o resíduo eletroeletrônico; conjugar os dados disponíveis, identificar os riscos e, apontar a necessidade de gestão e manejo ambientalmente adequado do e-lixo, não somente pelo Poder Público, mas sim, por toda a sociedade, primordialmente, aqueles que participam da cadeia produtiva de produtos elétricos e eletrônicos. Diante da conjuntura estrangeira e doméstica verificar-se-á que produtos eletroeletrônicos são descartados como sucata após o ciclo de vida útil, por vezes de modo inapropriado, face à omissão governamental de alguns Estados e a ausência de ações específicas para a gestão e manejo idôneo do lixo eletrônico. Nesse sentido, são elucidados aspectos críticos e positivos de ordenamentos jurídicos externos e interno em relação ao objeto de análise. Interessa, pois, a percepção de quão importante são os cuidados com o resíduo eletroeletrônico e como são amplas as implicações e reflexos em decorrência da gestão inadequada dos mesmos. Restam evidenciadas iniciativas pontuais sobre reutilização, reciclagem e destinação final do e-lixo, em prevenção à poluição ambiental. Sobretudo e, com vistas à proteção ambiental, enseja-se fomentar discussões inteligíveis, para propiciar à Administração Pública, empresas e sociedade elementos científicos robustos a fim de efetivar mecanismos de tutela e controle do descarte de resíduos de equipamentos elétricos e eletroeletrônicos. A metodologia aplicada ao esforço acadêmico consiste num esforço hipotéticodedutivo, no qual se parte de uma análise racional de fatores gerais e específicos, para evidenciar a realidade internacional e doméstica acerca dos resíduos de equipamentos elétricos e eletrônicos, com a finalidade de ressaltar a importância da gestão ambientalmente adequada dessa espécie de resíduo sólido.

O crescimento na geração de rejeitos de equipamentos elétricos e eletrônicos (REEE), legislações mais rigorosas e o valor agregado destes materiais incentivam o desenvolvimento de tecnologias de reciclagem. Contudo, a reciclagem dos componentes poliméricos dos REEE (CP-REEE) precisa superar desafios como a degradação durante o uso e reprocessamento, a presença de diferentes aditivos nos rejeitos e a depreciação de propriedades causada pela mistura não controlada de polímeros. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi desenvolver um estudo sobre a reciclagem mecânica na forma de blendas poliméricas de rejeitos do copolímero acrilonitrila-butadieno-estireno (ABS) e do poliestireno de alto impacto (HIPS), empregando agentes compatibilizantes. No desenvolvimento do trabalho foram realizadas a caracterização dos CP-REEE, análise das propriedades mecânicas, químicas, térmicas e morfológicas dos polímeros e das blendas de ABS/HIPS nas proporções de 1:3, 1:1 e 3:1 com variações na composição dos polímeros reciclados e virgens e por fim, realizado um estudo do envelhecimento foto-oxidativo acelerado de uma blenda ABS/HIPS. Os resultados mostraram que os polímeros ABS e HIPS reciclados ainda apresentam boas propriedades mecânicas e que a presença de agentes compatibilizantes provoca o aumento da tenacidade nas blendas ABS/HIPS. A incorporação de polímeros virgens nos materiais reciclados não promove ganho significativo nas propriedades mecânicas das blendas. Blendas com até 50% de ABS demonstraram ter propriedades próximas às do HIPS, enquanto as blendas com altos teores de ABS não alcançaram valores de propriedades mecânicas similares aos do ABS virgem. O comportamento das propriedades das blendas virgens e recicladas frente ao envelhecimento fotoquímico foi similar, indicando que o material reciclado apresenta grande potencial para aplicações. O estudo de blendas ABS/HIPS de CP-REEE demonstra que o controle da composição das blendas definem a sua aplicação. / The growth in waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) generation, directives more stringent and the aggregate value presents in these waste are encouraging the development of recycling technologies. However, recycling of polymeric components from WEEE (PC-WEEE) must overcome challenges such as degradation during use and reprocessing, the presence of various additives in the waste and the depreciation of properties caused by uncontrolled polymers mixture. The aim of this work was to develop a study of the mechanical recycling in the form blends with of polymeric waste of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer blends (ABS) and high impact polystyrene (HIPS) using compatibilizers. During the study was carried out the characterization of the PCWEEE and mechanical, chemical, thermal and morphological analysis of the polymers and the ABS / HIPS blends in proportions of 1:3, 1:1 and 3:1 with recycled and virgin polymers, as well as a study of the accelerated photo-oxidative aging of the ABS/HIPS blends. The results showed that ABS and HIPS recycled polymers still have good mechanical properties and the presence of compatibilization agents leads to increased toughness in ABS/HIPS blends. The incorporation of virgin polymers in recycled materials does not promote significant gain in the mechanical properties of the blends. Blends with up to 50% ABS have demonstrated to be closer to the HIPS, while blends with high content of ABS did not reach values of mechanical properties similar to the virgin ABS. The mechanical properties of virgin and recycled blends during the photochemical aging were similar, indicating that the recycled material has great potential for applications. The study of ABS/HIPS blends from PC-WEEE demonstrated that control of the blend composition establish their applications.

This thesis is a comprehensive study describing and quantifying material flows of waste electric and electronic equipment (WEEE) in the Czech Republic; specifically the material flow of small waste electric and electronic equipment (s-WEEE) as well as representative substances. The studied material flows were estimated regarding aspects of the environmental impact. The End-of-Life mobile phone is seen as a typical representative of s-WEEE ; therefore material flows of mobile phones are described in this thesis as well. To put it in concrete figures, approximately 124 thousand tons of WEEE from households originated in the Czech Republic in 2010, where each inhabitant got rid off 4 pieces of WEEE in average. Further, total production calculating also consumer-like WEEE from companies and institutions was around 141 thousand tons in 2010. S-WEEE present around 15% from the total amount of WEEE originating in 2010; however it is more than 80% as regards the number of pieces. Despite of that fact the recycling potential of Au for instance is slightly higher by s-WEEE than by large WEEE (63kg/year compared to the 59kg/year respectively). As regards estimation of the total production of EoL mobile phones, around 45 thousand pieces originated in the Czech Republic between the years 1990-2000 and 6,5...

This thesis is a comprehensive study describing and quantifying material flows of waste electric and electronic equipment (WEEE) in the Czech Republic; specifically the material flow of small waste electric and electronic equipment (s-WEEE) as well as representative substances. The studied material flows were estimated regarding aspects of the environmental impact. The End-of-Life mobile phone is seen as a typical representative of s-WEEE ; therefore material flows of mobile phones are described in this thesis as well. To put it in concrete figures, approximately 124 thousand tons of WEEE from households originated in the Czech Republic in 2010, where each inhabitant got rid off 4 pieces of WEEE in average. Further, total production calculating also consumer-like WEEE from companies and institutions was around 141 thousand tons in 2010. S-WEEE present around 15% from the total amount of WEEE originating in 2010; however it is more than 80% as regards the number of pieces. Despite of that fact the recycling potential of Au for instance is slightly higher by s-WEEE than by large WEEE (63kg/year compared to the 59kg/year respectively). As regards estimation of the total production of EoL mobile phones, around 45 thousand pieces originated in the Czech Republic between the years 1990-2000 and 6,5...

An evaluation of electronic waste (e-waste) management in Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality was undertaken in this study. The aim of the study was to evaluate the electronic waste management practices such as generation, storage, collection, transportation and disposal in Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality. This was achieved through questionnaires distributed to residents in Namakgale and Phalaborwa residential areas, structured interviews with municipal workers under the Environmental Health Division and observation in the landfill site and collection points were also used in gathering information on the electronic waste management. In the study it was found that a wide range of electronic waste is generated and lighting equipment, small household equipment and ICT equipment are disposed of in large numbers in the study area. The municipality is responsible for waste management in the study area. Electronic waste generated is stored, collected and disposed together with all other domestic waste in the area. No segregation or recycling at household level was evident. It was also found that the municipality does not have a formal relationship with electronic waste recycling companies to eliminate the flow of electronic waste from households to the landfill site. A lack of own regulatory and by-laws on electronic waste was noted and seemed to be one of the challenges the municipality is facing. The findings highlighted the low level of community awareness regarding electronic waste. The study concluded that there is a lack or absence of good management of electronic waste storage, collection, transportation in the Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality. From the study, it is recommended that there is a need for meaningful community awareness, environmental education, formulation of by-laws and formal recycling projects for effective electronic waste in Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality. / Environmental Sciences / M. Sc. (Environmental Management)