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Project
Title: Analysis of Discarded CRTs in Florida: Volume Projections and
Disposal Management Options
Sponsor: Hinkley Center for Solid and Hazardous
Waste Management, Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Principal Investigator: Amy
B. Chan Hilton. Co-PI: Gang
Chen
Project Period: 10.2008-3.2010
Project Abstract
Motivation: The average number of televisions per home
was 2.4 in 2001 (US Census, 2005).
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 62% of Americans owned one or
more computer in 2003. This was an increase from 56% in 2001 and 8% in
1984 (Day, et al. 2005). Additionally in 2001, 98.2% of homes had at
least one television, which is up from 87% in 1960. High definition
televisions are rapidly replacing the standard definition television.
CRTs are quickly becoming obsolete in developed countries and are a major
component in the electronic and hazardous waste stream (National
Recycling Coalition, 1999).
As a result, it is critical to be able to estimate and project the
quantity of CRTs that will be disposed. Equally as important is determining the capacity of
demanufacturing, recycling, and disposal facilities for discarded
CRTs. Management approaches
and policies need weigh the economic, environmental, and practical
aspects when recommending CRT disposal strategies.
Objectives: This research proposes to conduct a
comprehensive study of the current CRT waste situation in the state of
Florida (volume of CRT discarded, existing facilities, practices) as well
as make projections on trends in future CRT waste streams. The goal of this research to
answer questions about trends in volume of discarded CRTs in the future,
current CRT waste management practices and trends, and capacity for
handling increase in CRT disposal. A materials flow model that tracks
CRTs from the time a consumer purchases a television or monitor to when
it is stored, reused, recycled, and disposed will be developed. In addition, a user-friendly
management tool will be developed to allow managers, regulators, and
policy makers to compare scenarios for the recycling and disposal of CRTs
in the state of Florida. Additionally, recommendations on management
practices and policies will be made based on this research.
Benefits to End Users: The results of this project will have
multiple direct benefits to end users. Projections on future CRT waste
streams are necessary in order to align management practices,
infrastructure options, and potential policies with the demands of future
CRT discards. Synthesis of
data on the current status of CRT processing and disposal practices in
Florida will be beneficial to municipalities, reuse, demanufacturing, and
recycling facility managers, and regulators. Estimates on future CRT trends, based on the materials
flow modeling, will provide data for managers and policy makers on the
local and state level make decisions about expanding infrastructure to
handle CRT waste management. The spreadsheet-based management tool
developed in this research will allow end users to analyze policy and
management practices not specifically addressed in this research and/or
use local- or region-specific input data. Issues such as user disposal fees or manufacturer fees
and policy changes will be analyzed with this tool to assist the end
user.
Reports
- First Quarterly Report, November 2008
- First
TAG Meeting, December 2008
- Second Quarterly Report,
February 2009
- Third Quarterly Report,
May 2009
- Fourth Quarterly Report,
January 2010
-
SWANA
Thinking Outside of the Blue Box Conference, Feburary 2010,
Charlotte, NC [Presentation], [Paper]
- Draft Final Report,
June 2010
Resources
Project
Participants
- Libo Cui
- Dinesha Kodituwakku
- Debraj
Mukherjee
- Dan
Mathis
Technical Awareness Group (TAG)
- Tarek Abichou, Associate Professor,
FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
- Cynthia Brantley, Recycling
Coordinator, Leon County Solid Waste Management
- Randy Jones, Executive Vice
President, Goodwill Industries Big Bend Inc.
- Jack Price, Environmental Manager, FDEP
- Norman Thomas, Director, Leon County
Solid Waste Management
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