Selected Problems of Processing and Risks Connected with Recycling of Waste Electric and Electronic Equipment

Abstract

In the recent years significantly increased interest in the recovery of non-ferrous metal from waste of electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) has been observed. This waste is classified as hazardous waste because it contains both toxic metals such as lead or mercury and organic components such as polychlorinated biphenyls. For these reasons disposing of this waste is understandable. In Poland many companies have been founded that are involved in recycling of WEEE waste. Typically, companies operating in this sector are one of the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The overriding objective of the SME sector recycling is to increase the degree of exploitation of metallic waste in an economically justifiable way. This paper focuses on some of the above-mentioned issues of technological and qualitative assessment of risks associated with recycling of metal, in principle copper, from WEEE. There are several examples given of the risks faced by domestic companies in the SME recycling WEEE sector.