| GRN Recycle Talk FAQ Answer |
Date: Thu, 27 Feb 97 14:25 WET From: FRIEDMAN.FRED@EPAMAIL.EPA.GOV (Fred Friedman) Subject: Re: CRT Recycling (Eric Volk)
Feb 27/97
Dear Eric Volk,
Yes, CRT glass recycling is problemmatic as there are not many markets - there are some - for the product including throughput metallurgical uses and new CRT glass. CRT plastics and precious metals have pretty good markets. In the UK there is a firm that is working on the glass problem, ICL in Cheshire and also Mayer Cohen Industries in South Wales. The Financial Times of 2/14/96 has an article on page 17 regarding the extent to which this collaboration to recycling electronics including CRT glass is happening.
In the US there are many companies that are recycling CRT plastics, metals, etc. and are either dumping the glass or can occasionally find markets for it. One firm paying glass more attention than most is Conversion Technologies International of Hazlet, NJ.
In 1991 Digital Equipment, Matco and Corning set up a program to recycle CRTs, but I believe that this was short-lived.
Basically, the lead and cadmium in the CRT is the problem. The lead typically must go to a smelter or find an alternative use. The cadmium I cannot comment on.
If you want to talk to an American recycler, I will name a few more:
James Maher, Electronics Processing Associates, Lowell, Mass. 508-970-2700
Digital Computer Asset Recovery, Contoocook, NH, Bob Butler, 603-746-8227
Absolute Recycling, Neil Carpenter, 203-932-2422
In the UK recently, the Industry Council for Electronic and Electrical Equipment sponsored an electronic goods take back program. You might ask them what they did with their CRT materials.
Also, the 1994 IEEE Environment and Electronics conference proceedings included at least 1 relevant paper: Mandated Electronic Equipment Recycling in Europe by Patricia S. Dillon of Tufts University.
Hope that this is of help.
-- Research Library for RCRA