Recycling System SWICO

The involved actors, and the material and financial flows are described qualitatively for the recycling system. The quantity of generated waste and the boundary conditions define the dynamics of the system and are interrelated with the impacts. Waste generation can be reduced by reusing appliances or components (IC, CRT, etc.). Hence the product life spans increase and the impacts decrease.

Further processes are shown which recover valuable materials such as precious metals, copper, lead, plastics, etc. The applied processes appear in an enormous variety in different contexts around the world. The focus of this presentation is on thermal recovery technologies and disposal processes. The technologies applied determine the impacts of the system on humans and the environment. The processes are analysed in detail and described in process diagrams.