Chemical risks in WEEE recycling sectors

Chemical risks in WEEE recycling sectors Growth in the waste recycling sector has been considerable in the last 15 years due to the ever shorter life cycles of consumables and increasingly restrictive regulations. Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) processing sectors involve numerous risks: the chemical risks are of particular concern. The lack of ecodesign, increased waste flow, and the organisation of work stations and end-of-life recycling processes are the principal causes of occupational exposure to lead, cadmium, barium, yttrium and mercury in the main primary (cathode ray tubes and used bulbs) and secondary (electronic boards, electrical cables and plastic) recycling sectors. The chemical risk assessment by sector and process described in this paper has enabled us to inventory this general sector, identify the most polluting operations and prioritise prevention actions to reduce these chemical risks at the source. Prevention engineering proposals for improving existing installations, tested in the laboratory and on site, will contribute to reducing these risks in WEEE recycling sectors and will promote the design and development of clean and safe processes in emerging sectors.