Chemical substances in plastics of electrical and electronic equipment and waste recycling problems

The plastics of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) contain various chemicals that are introduced during production with flame retardants, stabilizers, dyes and other additives to impart the necessary properties. Among the hazardous substances, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), which are persistent organic pollutants (POPs), are of particular concern. The article discusses the results of chemical and analytical tests of EEE plastic waste and the first estimates for Belarus of the volumes of waste generation subject to environmentally sound management in accordance with the obligations of the Stockholm Convention on POPs. PBDEs were determined using gas chromatography in bromine-containing plastics (281 samples), bromine – using X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (760 samples). It was shown that bromine was detected in 37 % of cases, PBDEs – in 31 % of samples of bromine-containing plastics or in 11.4 % of their total amount. The maximum concentrations of PBDEs reach 12–17 % by weight. In terms of PBDEs occurrence in EEE plastics, they are ranked as follows: monitors and TVs – 15.4 % of cases, large household appliances – 14 %, IT and telecommunications equipment – 11.7 %, copying equipment – 6.9 %, small household appliances – 3 %. As of 2022, the volume of EEE plastic waste containing brominated flame retardants is estimated at 5.5 thousand tons, of which about 65 % is subject to environmentally sound management. More than 70 % of PBDE-containing waste is represented by monitor and TV plastics. Measures to improve the EEE collection system and the need to separate EEE plastic waste during their recycling in order to prevent the recycling of hazardous substances are discussed.

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