RE-Purposing
byYahayra Rosario-Cora / Course Principles of Sustainable Design
Macro situation of e-waste
e Waste
EUROPE
USA
KARACHI; Pakistan
DELHI; India
GUIYU; China
ACCRA; Ghana LAGOS; Nigeria
53 million tons of electronic waste was generated worldwide in 2009, but only 13 % of it was recycled. Global revenue for e-waste recovery were roughly $5.7 billion for 2008, and are expected grow to $14.6 by 2014 [ABI Research, 2010] in the article a program to certify electronic waste recycling rivals an industry
The evolution of materials used in personal computer [Pc & Laptops] by Amanda Maonchamp, EIA
E-Waste Properties:
30%
Design Idea The idea to encapsule e-waste inside glass is to give a new meaning and value to the precious metals found in hazardous materials. Encapsuling the e-waste inside glass is an opportunity to reduce the amount of toxic material destined to landfills.
29. 3 % Tin
25%
24.9 % Silica
Enclose or encapsule e-waste in glass as a way to reuse hazardous material without any harmful effect to humans and the environment. Additionally, upcycling the encapsulated material increases the value over the time.
23 % Plastic
e-MATERIAL
20.1% Iron
20%
WEIGHT one computer 15%
14.2% Aluminum
Origin of the idea:
10%
7% Copper 6.3% Lead
5%
Note: Cadmium, chromium, antimoni & beryllium were less than 0.1%
Global programs to recycle e-waste:
“E-waste is one of the fastest growing types of waste. Much of it ends up dumped in Africa and Asia.” Greenpeace “What you can do to help?” Greenpeace
2.2% Zinc 1% Tin
Envrionmental Protection Agency [EPA] Responsible Recycle [R2] Set of guidelines for accredited certification programs to assess electronics recyclers’ environmental, worker health and safety, and security practices.
Hey! Why leave it there?
e-Steward
Cradle to Cradle :: Waste Equals Food “Provide a second, third or more life to a material”
Identify Core Function
“Globally responsible way to recycle electronics” Categories to disposal e-waste:
Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generator [CEQG]
Small Quantity Generator [SQG]
Redesign for Innovation
Evaluate Material Health & Recyclability
Optimize Life Cycle Design
Large Quantity Generator [LQG]
Opportunities to;
Give
“The responsabile way to address irresponsible recycling is to help educate and encourage good practice, not to ban all the trade.” Mr. Harris in the article “A program to certify electronic waste recycling rivals in industry U.S. plan.”
Sold computers on a secondary market
Identify computer manufactures that have trade- in programs
Process to recycle e-waste
Separation of “precious material”
Define Life Cycle Scenario
Technical Metabolism
Definition according to GreenBlue [http://www.greenblue.org/cradle_flows.html]
A technical nutrient is a material, frequently synthetic or mineral, that remains safely in a closedloop system of manufacturing, recovery, and reuse [the technical metabolism], maintaining its highest value through many product life cycles.
Biomimicry “Biomimicry is the conscious emulation of life’s genius and innovation inspired by nature.” Janine Benyus
Identify computer retailers that have trade-in programs
Inspiration :: Amber stone
Metals inside the following components; A. Batteries
Technical Metabolism
It was created by the resin of living trees, the stones are often found with interesting inclusions, such as insects, seeds, feathers and bubbles.
- Contain heavy metals
B. Circuit Board - Contain heavy metals + highest precious metals Metals in a Circuit Boards Gold
80g to 1,500g
40 to 800 times the concentration of gold contained in a gold ore mined in the USA
Copper
160kg to 210kg
30 to 40 times the concentration of copper contained in a copper ore mined in the USA
Proposed Life Cycle
1980 - Noranda Inc., of Canada investigated methods to make their smelters profitables. “[...] finding indicated that the concentration of metals in average computer and other lectronic scrap may be more than twice that found in ores.”
Places to drop e-waste in Savannah, Georgia Chatham County has an e-Cycling to collect any brand of old computer-related equipment—computers, computer monitors, keyboards, mice, printers or other peripherals to a designated site for collection and recycling.
Spider Diagram Evaluation 5 4
Labor
Cradle to Cradle
2 1
Recycling activities consisting of collection and separation
Non-hazardous
Zero-Waste Design
Electrical equipment dumped Encapsulated electrical equipment
Melt
Waste
Sales + Trade in
e-waste event Waste
Toxicity
Users
New meaning + New Value
Hazardous
N+EW_Stools by Rodrigo Alonso
Tiles + e-waste by Yahayra Rosario
Retailers
Shape
Resource efficiency
3
Put into a mold
Separation of precious metals
6
Others ideas to encapsule e-waste
Cut as need it
Obsolete Computer [or electronic equipment]
Proposal; Reuse this e-waste material to put into the recycled glass
Collect recycled glass