Entries in e-waste (2)
Recycled Plastics Supply Chain Contaminated by E-waste, Study Says
Monday, November 7, 2011 at 02:14PM
E-waste is severly affecting the overseas supply chain. This recent study of Indian recycled plastics details some of the toxins that are getting into the recycled plastics market from recycled consumer electronics.
...Toxics Link in collaboration with Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA), State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO and Swiss Plastics Association is releasing an extensive study on plastic recycling across the city to measure one such widely used toxic chemical, brominated flame retardant (BFR) especially present in electronic products.
18 (41%) samples out of 44 samples collected from the recycling and moulding units were found positive for BFR and heavy metals like lead and cadmium. The observed concentration of BFR varied from 18.9ppm to 126.3ppm. Field study and lab research suggest that there is dispersion and dilution of these additives during recycling process.
BFRs in consumer products pose serious exposure risk particularly at the time of disposal. Although most plastics today, are recyclable, the recycled products become more hazardous than the virgin products. The study reveals that cross contamination by BFRs move into the environment and recycled products through recycling operations. Recycled plastic pellets used to manufacture new products contain these BFRs. There is a huge market for the products made of the recycled pellets that are used by low cost manufacturers...
Read more of the study at Toxics Link
Read a sumary in The Asian Age
Learn more about the problems of e-waste issues and global policy-making at the Basel Action Network
Electronics, Plastic, Recycled Plastic, e-waste in Materials, Supply Chain