Recycling Plastics from WEEE: A Review of the Environmental and Human Health Challenges Associated with Brominated Flame Retardants

Abstract

Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) presents the dual characteristic of containing both hazardous substances and valuable recoverable materials. Mainly found in WEEE plastics, brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are a component of particular interest. Several actions have been taken worldwide to regulate their use and disposal, however, in countries where no regulation is in place, the recovery of highly valuable materials has promoted the development of informal treatment facilities, with serious consequences for the environment and the health of the workers and communities involved. Hence, in this review we examine a wide spectrum of aspects related to WEEE plastic management. A search of legislation and the literature was made to determine the current legal framework by region/country. Additionally, we focused on identifying the most relevant methods of existing industrial processes for determining BFRs and their challenges. BFR occurrence and substitution by novel BFRs (NBFRs) was reviewed. An emphasis was given to review the health and environmental impacts associated with BFR/NBFR presence in waste, consumer products, and WEEE recycling facilities. Knowledge and research gaps of this topic were highlighted. Finally, the discussion on current trends and proposals to attend to this relevant issue were outlined.

Environmental, Health, and Legislation Considerations for Rational Design of Nonreactive Flame‐Retardant Additives for Polymeric Materials: Future Perspectives

“…Many countries, such as China, Japan, and Indonesia, have adapted annexes relating to BFR–POPs from the Stockholm Convention, however many of the signers of the agreement have yet to put legislation in place to ban these hazardous chemicals, such as the 52 African countries that have signed or Brazil, South America's leading producer of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE). [ 101 ] While the Stockholm Convention does not restrict the production of POPs, the use and recycling of materials containing POPs are meant to be regulated. [ 102 ] The European Union (EU) introduced Regulation 2019/1021 to control the restriction of POPs, set containment limits, and, most importantly, outline disposal methods for materials that contain POPs.…”

E-waste scenario in South-Asia: an emerging risk to environment and public health

“…Some informal disposal and handling practices of e-waste show in Figure 6. Recent studies also indicated that the workers who engaged in informal recycling had limited knowledge and awareness [53,57,58]. This exhibit as they work without using any safety dresses, or even not practising personal sanitation measures such as not washing hands before meals and not wearing clean clothes every day [47].…”

Prospective LCA of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Thermo‐Chemical Recycling by Pyrolysis

“…Regarding the plastics in EEE applications, flame retardants containing halogenated components are added to reduce its flammability but can cause difficulties in its EoL treatment [3,6]. Due to still inefficient collection and management practices of WEEE, a high proportion of this waste is illegally exported to Africa and Asia, where it is handled by informal workers under unsuitable environmental, health and safety conditions [4,7].…”