Page 661 - Materials Chemistry, Second Edition

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632 Waste Management Practices: Municipal, Hazardous, and Industrial

TABLE 22.6
Summary of the Proposed CRT Rule
Not Regulated
Households: may send used monitors to any collector for recycling or disposal
CESQGs: Nonresidential generators of less than 100 kg per month (about seven or eight computers)
are not subject to most Subtitle C standards
User who sends CRTs to a collector or reseller for potential reuse or repair: If the CRTs may be reused,
they are products, not wastes
Intact, off-specification CRTs sent for recycling: These are products, not wastes
Non-CRT electronic materials: Whole used circuit boards and shredded circuit boards are not regulated
Regulated With Streamlined Requirements
Used Broken CRTs Sent for Recycling:
● Conditionally excluded if they comply with universal waste-type packaging and labeling require-
ments for storage and shipment
● No speculative accumulation

Glass Processors:
● Must store broken CRTs indoors or in accordance with universal waste-type packaging and labeling,
no speculative accumulation
● May not use temperatures high enough to volatilize lead
Processed Glass:
● If sent to a glass-to-glass manufacturer or lead smelter, not regulated — treated as a product, unless
speculatively accumulated
● If sent off-site for other kinds of recycling activities, must comply with universal waste-type packag-
ing and labeling
● No speculative accumulation
Fully Regulated Under Subtitle C:
CRT disposal in a landfill or incinerator, and the disposer is not a household or a CESQG
Source: U.S. EPA, 2002c. With permission.

22.6 ELECTRONICS RECYCLING
Electronics recycling is a new but growing industry and embraces computers, telecommunications, and
consumer electronics equipment (e.g., televisions and audio equipment). Over 9.7 million units (125
million kg or 275 million lb) of electronic equipment were recycled in 1998 (NSC, 1999). Computer
peripherals, desktop PCs, and CRT computer monitors are the most common equipment recycled;
however, the actual percentage of electronics recycled is quite low. Approximately 6% of personal
computer CPUs were recycled in 1998, with televisions recycled at an even lower rate (NSC, 1999).
By comparison, over 64% of white goods are recycled annually in the United States. (U.S. EPA, 1999).
Electronic products are manufactured with valuable raw materials that can be reused or recy-
cled. In 1998 over 112 million lb of materials were recovered from electronics including steel (43.9
million lb), glass (29.2 million lb), plastic (14.4 million lb), aluminum (9.9 million lb), copper (7.9
million lb), and precious metals (2.2 million lb) (NSC, 1999; U.S. EPA, 2002a).
The number of personal computers being recycled is anticipated to reach approximately 60 mil-
lion units per year within the next five years (NSC, 1999). The major sources of electronics prod-
ucts for recycling have been manufacturers and large users. Currently 75% of the equipment being
recycled originates from electronics manufacturers and large organizations (more than 500 employ-
ees). Only a very small amount of electronics is being recovered from households (NSC, 1999; U.S.
EPA, 2002a).