Environmental assessment of end of life of personal computer and recycling strategies development in Thailand

Abstract

The unused or broken desktop computers and equipment are accumulating significantly and also become the massive of waste in the near future. Particularly, computer wastes become concerning issues because of hazardous substances inside. Currently, there is a lack of proper treatment and management system for this type of wastes. Therefore, they can affect the environment quality and human health. To find the best approach to handle with these devices, the objectives of this research aim to evaluate the environmental impacts from proper landfilling and recycling approach. The LCA approach was applied in this study. The analysis used the SimaPro7.3.3 program under the ReCiPe 2008 assessment method. Furthermore, this research evaluated the potential future impact from the different management scheme including: (1) 100% landfilling , (2) 5% recycling and 95% landfilling, (3) 20% recycling and 80% landfilling. This research conducted the public survey to gather the information how to improve PC waste management. The research results revealed that different amount of embedded material types (toxic substances and recyclable material) can consequently provide the individual environmental performance in End of life management of each device. For the endpoint impact assessment, CRT landfilling could contribute highest negative burdens to the human health, ecosystem and resource depletion impact compared to recycling approach, following by desktop PC and LCD computer screen, respectively. Recycling approach can reduce the environmental burden due to the avoided of primary material production stages. Particularly, Desktop PC contributes the most environmental advantage from this scheme, following by the LCD and CRT computer screen, sequentially. The environmental single score results showed that recycling has lower single score than proper landfill. The scenario analysis results found that 20% of recycling scenario can achieve the most benefits following by recycling 5% scenario. However, the 100% landfilling yields negative environmental impact. This study developed 4 recommended strategies of desktop PC management improvement in Thailand including: (1) Increase people awareness and participation in desktop PC waste management, (2) Extended PC equipment lifespan by using proper upstream management, (3) Promoting creation of appropriate desktop PC waste collection center/scheme, and (4) Gradually changing the improper into proper recycling scheme. All strategies need corporation among all key sectors to implement waste management plan successfully and effectively.