Asekol > Processors > LCA study of discarded TV sets and monitors
LCA study of discarded TV sets and monitors
Separation and recycling are generally considered to be activities that are favourable for the environment and one of the main paths towards sustainable development. As one of the first collective schemes in Europe, ASEKOL decided to exactly determine the environmental impact of the collection and recycling of electrical and electronic equipment. For this reason, together with external professionals, it compiled a unique life-cycle assessment (LCA) in 2009, of discarded TV sets and monitors, which constitute approx. 80 % of all EEE collected within a collective scheme. The aim of the study was objective, transparent and internationally acknowledged description of environmental effects connected to take-back, transport and treatment of TV and monitors till the stadium - compensation primary raw materials. In fine, there was made a model to make a evidence of individual environmental effects for customers (collection points, producers, etc. ) Gathering of the relevant data required more than 8 months of difficult work by the employees of ASEKOL.
All positive and negative environmental inputs and outputs within the collection, transport and treatment of EEE were described and exactly determined within the inventory analysis of taken-back TV sets and monitors. The transport distances from all the collection sites to all the treatment facilities and the environmental impacts of transport were also ascertained within this inventory analysis. Furthermore, the technological equipment of the individual treatment facilities was described and, on the basis of specific consumption values, total demands on inputs (electricity, natural gas, water, chemicals, spare parts, diesel fuel) were calculated for the chosen functional unit, i.e. per average TV set and per average monitor. The same procedure was also used for the subsequent treatment of the individual fractions that are created in the disassembly of TV sets and monitors. Treatment of each individual component and fraction was documented up to its final recycling into a new product or its final disposal. Environmental impacts were determined for each fraction (e.g. in the form of replacement of primary raw materials or fuels).
ASEKOL has resolved to use the results of the LCA study for its environmental accounting system. Each client of the collective system who places TV sets or monitors on the market and each collection site involved in the ASEKOL collective scheme will obtain, together with this annual report, an individual account of its contribution to the environment, which will be calculated on the basis of the aforementioned analysis.
The results of LCA unambiguously confirmed that the activities of the ASEKOL collective scheme have a clear benefit for the environment. For example, take-back of one TV set (monitor):
- Saves 162.39 kWh of electricity (125.04 kWh for a monitor). The same amount of energy is used, e.g., by a 60 W light bulb that is turned on continuously for 4 months (3 months for a monitor)
- Saves energy-production raw materials; for example, it is not necessary to extract 2.45 litres of crude oil (2.58 litres for a monitor) and 4.38 kg of coal (2.86 for a monitor). The same quantity of crude oil is used, e.g. for travelling 20 km in a passenger vehicle with a consumption of 6 litres per 100 kilometres. The same amount of coal is consumed for one stoking of a central heating boiler in an ordinary family home.
- Saves primary raw materials; it is not necessary to extract a total of 9.73 kg of primary raw materials (13.9 kg for a monitor), mostly sand, lime and iron.
- Saves 744 litres of potable water (757 litres for a monitor), and thus prevents the formation of the same quantity of polluted wastewater. The same quantity of water is used, e.g., during ten showers.
- Reduces the production of hazardous waste by 163 kilograms (145 kg for a monitor). The same quantity of hazardous waste is produced by 40 households in a year (36 households for a monitor).
- Reduces the emissions of greenhouse gases by 45.71 kilograms of CO2 (32 kilograms for a monitor). The same quantity of CO2 is produced by a car, that travels from Prague to Ostrava.
If the same values are applied to the total collected quantities of monitors and TV sets during a year, we obtain the following data in the schedule.
Energy and material recovery from taken-back television sets corresponds to substantial energy savings. The greatest energy savings come from recycling of glass and material recovery of components with high contents of copper and precious metals (Ag, Au, Pt and Pd), such as cables and the plates of printed circuits. Savings are also derived from recycling of iron, aluminium and plastics and energy recovery of plastics and wood.
Collection, transport and disassembly of discarded television sets increase the consumption of energy. However, compared to the energy savings, this consumption is quite low and does not exceed 10% of the total energy.
Published on: 04. 08. 2010
Author: Mgr. Jan Vrba