RoHS - regulated substances in mixed plastics from waste electrical and electronic equipment

This paper summarizes the findings of a research study, which was commissioned by the WEEE Forum to contribute to a formulation of normative requirements with respect to depollution of WEEE. Two main questions are addressed: (i) What are the concentrations of substances regulated by the Directive 2002/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (RoHS Directive) in mixed plastics from selected WEEE categories and products?, and (ii) What are the implications for an environmentally sound recovery of plastics from WEEE? The study included 53 sampling campaigns for mixed plastics from WEEE. The samples were analysed with regard to flame retardants (PentaBDE, OctaBDE, DecaBDE, DecaBB) and heavy metals (cadmium, chromium, mercury and lead) regulated in the RoHS Directive. Besides these substances, other brominated flame retardants known to occur in electronics (HBCD, TBBPA) as well as the total bromine and phosphorus contents were considered. Results were evaluated with regard to the maximum concentration values defined in the Directive.