Scavenging of WEEE: Environmental and Economic Consenquences for Society

Introduction

Scavenging occurs when whole electrical and electronic products, or valuable components and materials, are removed from WEEE before it reaches authorised recycling facilities. This can affect both the quality and quantity of WEEE available for compliant treatment and the recovery of valuable and critical raw materials.

In 2019, EERA commissioned SOFIES to examine the environmental and economic consequences of scavenging across Europe. The study draws on data provided by EERA members and other European recyclers covering more than 520,000 tonnes of WEEE treated at 43 locations in nine countries during 2018. The analysis covered cooling and freezing equipment, screens, large and small household appliances and IT equipment.

The study examines two forms of scavenging: the removal of whole products, particularly equipment with higher economic value or potential for reuse, and the removal of components and materials before WEEE reaches the recycling plant. It assesses the consequences for material recovery, environmental performance and the economics of professional WEEE recycling.

What is scavenging of WEEE?

The study uses scavenging to describe the removal of whole products, components or valuable materials from WEEE before the equipment reaches the recycling plant.

It identifies two main forms:

• Scavenging of whole products, particularly equipment with higher economic value or potential for reuse. Examples examined include air conditioners, desktop and laptop computers and mobile phones.

• Scavenging of components and materials after products have been discarded but before they are handed over to recyclers. These can include compressors, cables, circuit boards, batteries, drives, coils and other valuable parts.

The study found that scavenging can occur at collection points or during other stages before WEEE is delivered to a treatment facility. As a result, recyclers may receive equipment from which valuable or environmentally sensitive components have already been removed.

This has consequences beyond the loss of material value. The study links scavenging to reduced recovery of critical raw materials, potential environmental damage when hazardous components are removed incorrectly, and economic losses for authorised recyclers.

Scavenging of whole products

The study found that scavenging does not only involve the removal of valuable components. Entire products can disappear from official WEEE collection and treatment channels, particularly equipment with significant economic value or potential for reuse.

The analysis compared the proportion of selected products expected in the WEEE stream with the proportion actually observed by recyclers. It found substantial differences for several product types. Air conditioners, laptops, desktop computers and mobile phones were all observed at lower levels than would be expected based on estimated WEEE generation.

The study associates this difference with factors including non-registered recycling and the trading or export of valuable equipment for reuse, whether legitimate or otherwise.

The contrast was particularly pronounced for products with reuse potential. For example, desktop computers were estimated to represent 29% of the relevant generated WEEE stream but only 6% of the material observed by recyclers. Laptops fell from an estimated 9% to 3%, while mobile phones fell from 3% to 1%. Air conditioners accounted for an estimated 10% but only 6% of the relevant stream received by recyclers.

CRT screens showed the opposite pattern, representing a considerably greater proportion of the material received by recyclers than their estimated share of WEEE generated. The study links the overall differences to the economic and reuse value of products, indicating that equipment with greater residual value is more likely to be diverted before reaching professional WEEE recyclers.

Scavenging of components

In addition to whole products, valuable components and materials can be removed from WEEE at collection points or at other stages before the equipment reaches the recycling facility. The study examined the extent of this practice across different WEEE categories and found significant variation in the types and quantities of components removed.

For cooling and freezing equipment, compressors showed the highest scavenging level at 22%, followed by cables and mains cords at 17%. Casings, radiators and other relevant parts were also removed.

For small household appliances and IT equipment, the highest levels were recorded for drives such as CD-ROM, HDD and SSD units at 29%, followed by cables and mains cords at 21% and circuit boards at 20%. Batteries and other components were also affected.

The study also identified component scavenging from screens and large household appliances. In screens, deflection coils and electron guns recorded a scavenging level of 21%, while cables and mains cords and drives were each at 14%. For large household appliances, cables and mains cords recorded the highest level at 15%.

The significance of these losses extends beyond their economic value. Components such as circuit boards, hard drives and batteries may contain critical raw materials. When they are diverted from established treatment routes, the study warns that they may not reach the appropriate downstream processes and that the volumes needed to support recovery of critical raw materials can be reduced.

Environmental consequences

The study identifies significant environmental consequences when WEEE or its components are removed from controlled collection and treatment routes. Scavenging can reduce the recovery of valuable materials and increase the risk that hazardous substances are released or handled outside appropriate treatment processes.

A particular concern is the removal of compressors from cooling and freezing equipment. Older refrigeration appliances may contain CFCs or HCFCs in their refrigeration circuits. If compressors are removed without appropriate treatment, these ozone-depleting gases can be released into the atmosphere.

Based on its 2018 data and an assumed one million tonnes of refrigerators generated in Europe, the study estimated that emissions associated with compressor scavenging could amount to 3.6 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent, which it compared with the annual emissions of approximately two million cars.

The study also identifies risks associated with mercury from scavenged flat-panel displays and the loss of critical raw materials contained in components such as circuit boards, hard drives and batteries. When these components are diverted from appropriate end-processing facilities, valuable materials may be dissipated and the critical mass required for their recovery can be reduced.

For this reason, the study links the quality of WEEE collection directly to environmental performance and the objectives of the WEEE Directive and the circular economy.

Economic consequences for recyclers

Scavenging also affects the economics of professional WEEE recycling. When valuable components are removed before equipment reaches a recycling facility, the recycler receives material with a lower recoverable value while continuing to bear the costs of compliant treatment.

The study highlights a particular problem with contracts between recyclers and Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs). Treatment fees may be indexed to fluctuations in major commodity prices, but the value lost through scavenging is less predictable and can vary over time. When commodity prices rise, scavenging of valuable components may increase at the same time as indexed treatment fees decrease.

This creates a commercial risk that is largely outside the recycler's control. Components may already have been removed at collection points or elsewhere in the chain, yet their absence directly affects the value of the material received and therefore the economics of treatment. The study notes that this can also influence recyclers' competitiveness when bidding for treatment contracts.

The study therefore identifies scavenging not simply as a loss of valuable material, but as an issue affecting the financial sustainability of compliant WEEE treatment and the allocation of costs within producer responsibility systems.

Scale of material and economic losses

The study estimates that scavenging represented a substantial loss of both material and economic value from European WEEE streams. Based on WEEE generated in the EU28, Norway and Switzerland, it estimated that in 2018 more than 152,000 tonnes of materials and components were diverted, representing more than €150 million in material value.

The largest estimated losses by value were associated with:

• Drives: €55 million

• Compressors: €40 million

• Circuit boards: €36 million

• Cables: €15 million

• Copper/iron coils and motors: €5 million

• Batteries: €174,000

These losses affect different WEEE streams in different ways. Cooling and freezing equipment accounted for the largest estimated material loss, at approximately 77,000 tonnes, followed by large household appliances at 51,000 tonnes.

The figures illustrate the scale of material that may be removed before WEEE reaches professional recycling facilities, reducing both the recoverable value available to recyclers and the quantity of materials available for compliant treatment and recovery.

Recommendations

The study sets out four recommendations aimed at reducing scavenging and improving the quality of WEEE entering compliant treatment and recycling systems.

Make collection and logistics standards mandatory

The study recommends making EN 50625-4 on collection and logistics mandatory across EU Member States. It argues that consistent application of the standard would improve material yields, reduce environmental damage and increase opportunities to recover critical raw materials.

Monitor scavenging across Europe

The study proposes establishing anobservatory to monitor scavenging levels in different countries and markets, including the associated environmental impacts. It also recommends developing common indicators, based on average market values of material fractions, to estimate the economic losses caused by scavenging.

Address the economic losses

Alternative financing or compensation mechanisms should be considered to account for the value lost when components are removed before WEEE reaches recyclers. The study gives examples including revised indexing mechanisms and adjustments to compensation paid to collection points.

Improve the quality of WEEE collection

Finally, the study calls for greater awareness of the importance of collection quality, supported by policies and operational practices that ensure WEEE and its valuable components reach appropriate treatment

About the study

Scavenging of WEEE: Environmental and Economic Consequences for Society was commissioned by EERA and conducted by SOFIES. The study was published in 2019 and is authored by Federico Magalini and Ruweyda Stillhart.

The analysis draws on 2018 operational data provided by EERA members and other European recyclers, covering more than 520,000 tonnes of WEEE treated at 43 locations in nine countries. It examines the scavenging of both whole products and individual components and assesses the resulting environmental and economic consequences.

Important note

The figures presented in the study are estimates based on the information available at the time of publication and may vary from actual measurements. The original report also notes that information may have changed since publication and that more complete or up-to-date information may subsequently have become available. Readers should refer to the original study for the complete methodology, references and disclaimer

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