Persistent Hazardous Waste and the Quest Toward a Circular Economy: The Example of Arsenic in Chromated Copper Arsenate–Treated Wood

Abstract

Summary The importance of a circular economy is today widely accepted and advocated, but among the challenges in achieving this, we find difficulties in the implementation of legislation and policies designed to control various waste streams from society. The example used in this article is wood that has been treated with chromated copper arsenate (CCA), which, in Sweden, has been covered by the rules for hazardous waste since 2002. One year later, in 2003, a survey showed that only 42% to 50% of the expected amount of CCA waste could be traced to the public waste management system. An updated material flow analysis for 2010 revealed that the figure had increased to 73%, whereas the fraction of correctly treated CCA wood waste had increased from 11% to 35%. However, almost one third of the expected volume was still not tracable, and half of the amount that was correctly submitted was incinerated together with nontoxic waste fractions. This results in, for example, arsenic contamination of slag and fly ashes that prevents the further use of these residue products. So, despite legislative instruments, there is still an urgent need for an improved collection of hazardous wood waste, as well as better routines for identifying hazardous flows and separating them from nonhazardous ones. For a circular economy to be achievable, a key priority should be to reduce the gap between intended directions and legislation, on one hand, and activities in practice on the other.

Taking the Circularity to the Next Level: A Special Issue on the Circular Economy

“…In this issue, two contributions examine these challenges. Augustsson and colleagues () examine the management of wood treated with chromated copper arsenate (CCA) in Sweden. They document how, despite overt attention to CCA wood waste since 2002, it remains both poorly tracked and improperly routed in the waste management with undesirable results, including contamination of incinerator ash, limiting possibilities for reuse of the ash.…”

Recovery of antifungal compounds from wood and coffee industry side-streams and residues for wood preservative formulations

“…Finally, the last problem with current wood preservatives is the way in which the wood needs to be disposed when it reaches the end of its life cycle. When this occurs, untreated wood can be revalorized and burned for energy purposes, but toxic preservative-impregnated wood needs to be treated as hazardous waste in many countries, as in the case of CCA-treated wood (Augustsson et al 2017). However, the disposal of treated wood is expensive and is becoming less common due to stricter regulations in many countries (Coudert et al 2013).…”

Circular Economy Practices on Wood Panels: A Bibliographic Analysis

“…The wood panel manufacturing process is considered a linear production, evident in waste without a correct disposal, the irresponsible use of natural resources, and the use of toxic chemicals, for which a more efficient regulation is necessary to reduce the risks to more acceptable levels [30].…”

“…For resources and materials to be used in a circular way, the frequent presence of toxic chemicals is a critical obstacle, and the chances of reaching a CE may vary. It depends on our capacity to identify flow of hazardous waste, separate them from other flows and, in the long term, find ways to detoxify them before their recycling [30].…”