1. Development of best management systems for WEEE in Cyprus
National Technical University of Athens School of Chemical Engineering Unit of Environmental Science and Technology
LIFE 3rd countries:
Development of best management systems for WEEE in Cyprus
Konstantinos Moustakas
Chemist, NTUA PhD Candidate
Nicosia, Thursday 15th June, 2006

2. WEEE sources
Πηγή:ICER (2000) UK Status Report on Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment. Industry Council for Electronic Equipment Recycling (ICER)

3. WEEE Composition
Πηγή: European Topic Centre on Waste and Material Flows Topic, Centre of European Environment Agency

4. Existing situation in EC
Estimated quantity
million tones of WEEE
4-6% of the total quantity of municipal waste
3fold increasing rate comparing with the rate of municipal waste
12-20 kg/resident

5. Steering committee: WEEE
Representatives from:
Environment Service – Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment (beneficiary)
National Technical University of Athens (partner)
Electromechanical Service of Cyprus
Ministry of Commerce
Recycling Association
Importers Association
Cypriot Commercial and Industrial Chamber
National Statistical Service of Cyprus
Cypriot Customhouse

6. Implementation of the WEEE inventory
A. Collection and recording of primary data and information necessary for the estimation of the quantities of WEEE
An extensive inventory programme took place in order to collect all the information related to the generation of WEEE. In particular, for each one of the WEEE type, the following analytical primary data and information were collected and recorded:

7. Implementation of the WEEE inventory
Number of items and prices of EEE produced in Cyprus
total price of EEE sold in Cyprus
data related to the EEE existing in Cypriot households
data concerning the companies importing and selling EEE.

8. Implementation of the WEEE inventory
B. Assessment and evaluation of the primary collected data – Estimation of the quantities of WEEE generated in Cyprus – Future projections
All the primary collected data was used for the determination of the quantities of the WEEE waste stream that were generated in Cyprus as well as for the estimation of the future quantities that will be generated. The calculation of the quantities generated was carried out using appropriate mathematical equations and models.

9. Implementation of the WEEE inventory
7 methods, applied at European and international level, for the calculation of the quantities of the several types of WEEE, were examined and analyzed:
Μέθοδος εφοδιασμού αγοράς (Market supply method)
Μέθοδος εφοδιασμού αγοράς Α (Market supply Α method):
Μέθοδος Stanford (Stanford method)
Μέθοδος Carnegie Mellon
Μέθοδος χρονικών βημάτων (time step method)
Προσεγγιστική μέθοδος (Estimate Method)
Μέθοδος ICER.

10. WEEE generation estimation
5 types of WEEE were examined and their quantities generated were calculated (refrigerators, TVs, microwave ovens, washing machines, PCs)
Lack of sales data (hypothesis: stock=20% imports)
Supply method for the 4 types, estimate method for PCs
Product
Reason for selecting
Refrigerators
A saturated market item, good knowledge of material composition, ozone depleting CFC content could result in large environmental impact, there are national regulations for treatment in many countries
TV sets
A saturated market item, Hazardous substances content
Washing machines
A saturated market item
PCs
A dynamic market with strong growth in every country, wide range of hazardous materials is contained in a PC
Microwave ovens
Likely to be disposed of in an uncontrolled manner together with household waste 

11. Product
Weight (kg)
Average life time (years)
Variation
Refrigerators 48 15
(9-18)
TVs 28 10
(5-11)
Washing machines 46 13
PCs 25 5
(4-8)
Microwave ovens 18 11

12. Refrigerators Year Imports (pieces) Sales (pieces) 1990 24005 19204
1991
19726
19622
1992
24729
23708
1993
19228
20124
1994
19189
19376
1995
21076
20736
1996
21810
21595
1997
15986
17108
1998
19112
18711
1999
15729
16325
2000
19490
18857
2001
18949
18931
2002
24783
23613
2003
20305
20967

13. Year Method Supply Method Supply A Pieces Weight (kg) 2002 115 5520
Method Supply
Method Supply A
Year
Pieces
Weight (kg)
2002
115
5520
2003
1289
61872
2004
5987
287376
2005
19204
921792
13651
655248
2006
19622
941837
19224
922752
2007
23708
21152
2008
20124
965947
20820
999360
2009
19376
930047
20274
973152
2010
20736
995328
20362
977376
2011
21595
19950
957600
2012
17108
821176
18779
901392
2013
18711
898136
17944
861312
2014
16325
783621
17797
854256
2015
18857
905140
18546
890208
2016
18931
908670
19896
955008
2017
23613
19923
956304
2018
20967
14991
719568
2019
6628
318144
2020
1421
68208
2021
126
6048

14. Estimation of waste refrigerators

15. Estimation of waste microwave ovens

16. Estimation of waste washing machines

17. Estimation of waste televisions

18. Waste from PCs Year Houses with PCs (%) Number of houses 2000 28
224300
2001 30
229000
2002 35
233000
2003 42
238800
2004 49
243150
2005 56
247900
2006 63
252650
2007 70
257400
2008 84
262150
2009 91
266900
2010 98
271650

19. PCs Waste Estimations Year Waste generation (pieces) 2000 12561 314020
Waste generation (kg)
2000
12561
314020
2001
13740
343500
2002
16310
407750
2003
20059
501480
2004
23829
595718
2005
27765
694120
2006
31834
795848
2007
36036
900900
2008
44041
2009
48576
2010
53243

20. Estimation of waste personal computers (PCs)
200000
400000
600000
800000
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010 Kg
Estimate method

21. Estimation of the Total WEEE generation 2005-2010
Εκτίμηση ΑΗΗΕ στα έτη
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
Supply
12 kg/κάτοικο
Supply A
14 kg/ κάτοικο
16 kg/κάτοικο
18 Kg/κάτοικο

22. Comments Product Years Method Supply Method Supply A
Estimate method Kg/resident/year
Kg/resident/year
Refrigerators
( )
1.20
1.13
TVs
( )
1.76
1.61
Microwave ovens
( )
0.27
0.25
Washing Machines
( )
1.17
1.10
PCs
( )
0.55
( )
1.01

23. Comments Products Waste generation (kg/resident/year) Refrigerators
1.29
Microwave ovens
0.27
Washing Machines
1.03
TVs
1.65
PCs
1.44
Total
5.67

24. Implementation of the inventory
Quantities of waste of PCs, microwave ovens, washing machines and TVs present increasing rate, while the quantities of refrigerators remain quite constant.
The quantities generated annually per type of waste and per habitant were calculated as well as the total annual quantities of the WEEE per habitant. The total quantities of waste of the 5 types of EEE under examination were estimated to be 5.67 Kg/habitant for the year 2008, while the quantitative target of recovery is 4 Kg WEEE per habitant. The results show that Cyprus could reach this target, focusing on the recovery of the 5 types of WEEE examined through the project, since these types of WEEE are bulky and can be managed more easily than other types of WEEE.

25. Development of appropriate database
An appropriate database was designed and developed for the WEEE waste stream

26. Input of information into the database
All the data collected during was inserted into the database developed. Using appropriate software tools, this collected material was assessed (the assessment includes forecast for future generation of WEEE). Also, this database provides the user with the capability to demonstrate the results in graphics.

27. Determination of the multi-criteria decision methodology
Alternative multi – criteria decision methods were recorded and examined:
I. Decision supporting tool based on the use of an aggregation function of groups of criteria
Step 1: Determination and selection of all the individual criteria - Classification of criteria in categories of criteria (groups of criteria)
Step 2: Each group of criteria are numerically weighed (factors of gravity), according to their importance (degree of importance) - The sum of the factors of gravity is 1 (100%)
Step 3: Each individual criterion is numerically weighed (factor of gravity), according to its importance in each group of criteria - The sum of the factors of gravity is 1 (100%)

28. Determination of the multi-criteria decision methodology
Step 4: Development of the multi-criteria model, based on the aggregation function:
F (O)= Σ Ai *Οi
where:
Οi: each group of criteria
Αi: factor of gravity of each group of criteria
Σ Ai =1 (100%),
Step 5: Analysis of the characteristics of each individual criterion and quantification of their performance in a scale of 1 – 10.
Step 6: Recording of the actual characteristics of each individual criterion for each alternative scenario – Rating of their actual performance according to the scale set in Step 5.
Step 7: Input of the data obtained in step 6 into the multicriteria model (aggregation function) for each alternative scenario - Grading of the results for each scenario
Step 8: According to the results obtained from step 7, all the alternative scenarios are ranked (the scenario with the highest score is ranked first)

29. Determination of the multi-criteria decision methodology
II. Decision supporting tools based on the determination of individual criteria and comparison of alternative scenarios per couple for each criterion
Step 1: Determination and selection of all the individual criteria
Step 2: Each individual criterion is numerically weighed (factor of gravity), according to its importance - The sum of the factors of gravity is 1 (100%)
Step 3: Development of the multi-criteria model:
Models: ELECTRE – PROMETHEE (I, II)
Step 4: Analysis of the characteristics of each individual criterion and quantification of their performance in a scale of 1 – 10.
Step 5: Recording of the actual characteristics of each individual criterion for each alternative scenario – Rating of their actual performance according to the scale set in Step 5.
Step 6: Input of the data obtained in step 5 into the multi-criteria model for each alternative scenario – Ranking of alternative scenarios according to their suitability after comparison per couple
According to their effectiveness, the most suitable multi-criteria model was selected: PROMETHEE II

30. Setting, description and calibration of the assessment criteria used for the evaluation
All the assessment criteria were set, described and calibrated (17 criteria in four groups of criteria). Table 1 presents the criteria and groups of criteria used.

31. Table 1: Individual criteria and groups of criteria
Social - Institutional
Environmental
Economic
Technical
Harmonization with the legislative framework
Level of potential effects to the environment
– Demands on anti-pollution systems
Cost of construction
Performance
Adopting of legislative priorities
Air emissions
Operational and maintenance costs
Existing experience - reliability
Social acceptance
Generation of wastewater
Space demands
Versatility to local conditions
Possibility of creation of new jobs
Generation of solid waste – residues
Flexibility
Noise pollution
Visual annoyance

32. Description of the alternative scenarios - management systems
All the scenarios- management systems that are possible for implementation were recorded and examined

33. Life – Cycle of EEE

34. Flow diagram for the management of WEEE

35. Typical composition of WEEE scrap

36. Description of the alternative scenarios - management systems
Scenario 1: Complete disassembly and forwarding of recyclable materials to the native existing market
Scenario 2: Complete disassembly and forwarding of recyclable materials to the native market (after developing of the appropriate infrastructures)
Scenario 3: Complete disassembly and transfer of recyclable materials abroad
Scenario 4: Partial disassembly forwarding of recyclable materials to the native existing market
Scenario 5: Partial disassembly and forwarding of recyclable materials to the native market (after developing of the appropriate infrastructures)
Scenario 6: Partial disassembly and transfer of recyclable materials abroad

37. Flow chart of TV disassembly

38. Flow chart of PC disassembly

39. Description of the alternative scenarios - management systems
Methods of chopping of WEEE
I. Treating of bulky domestic WEEE (refrigerators, washing machines etc.) in chopping systems used for ELVs:
Disassembly and removal of parts that contain PCBs is necessary before chopping
Low cost
Recovery of materials: Up to 75%
Production of high amount of residues that are transferred to landfill
II. Treating of bulky domestic WEEE (refrigerators, washing machines etc.) in appropriately designed chopping systems:
Disassembly and removal of parts that contain PCBs, plastics, electric motors etc. is necessary before chopping
Higher cost
Recovery of materials: Up to 90%

40. Description of the alternative scenarios - management systems: Disassembly of WEEE
Partial disassembly of WEEE
The procedure focuses on the disassembly of bulky parts of the WEEE (according to their weight and volume) and parts that are dismantled easily. It could be applied manually or/and automatically.
Complete disassembly of WEEE
Additionally to the parts that are dismantled in the partial disassembly, other parts are removed, such as printed circuit boards, cables, sensors, resistances, batteries, etc.
In both, partial and complete disassembly procedures, it is necessary to remove all the parts that contain hazardous substances before disassembling, such as:
Printed circuit boards (PCB)
Cathode ray tubes (CRT)
Batteries etc.
The hazardous substances included are:
Heavy metals: Hg, Pb, Cd, Cr
CFCs, PCBs
PVC
BFRs
asbestos

41. Quantification of the criteria – Input of the data in the multi-criteria software tool – Screening of each management system according to its applicability
All the criteria used for the evaluation of alternative scenarios for WEEE were quantified in accordance to their performance
All the data that were collected and assessed were used by the multi-criteria software tool in order to evaluate the effectiveness of each alternative management system for WEEE.

42. Optimum Management System
According to the results of the multi criteria analysis, the optimum management system for WEEE is based on partial disassembly practices with the following hierarchy:
Partial disassembly and absorption of materials by the market in Cyprus on the basis of the existing situation
Partial disassembly and absorption of materials by the market in Cyprus with the prospective of developing new technologies
Partial disassembly and transboundary transportation of materials
Techno-economic study for the implementation of the optimum management system for WEEE (finalization phase)