Creating a Greenhouse Gas and Energy LCA for CRT Televisions: Data Availability and Transboundary Challenges

Christopher Evans*, ICF International
Victoria Thompson**, ICF International

In 2007, over 900,000 tons of televisions were disposed in the United States, of which roughly three quarters were cathode ray tube (CRT) televisions (TVs). Disposals of CRT TVs are expected to increase as consumers replace them with new flat panel models, particularly as result of the transition to digital television in 2009. The tonnage of CRT TVs entering the waste stream increased by over 40% between 1999 and 2007, and in a 2008 survey of North American e-scrap recyclers, 75% reported an increase in CRT volumes within the past year. 1,2 The USEPA estimates that 18% of CRT TVs are recycled at end-of-life in the United States.

To expand the USEPA’s Waste Reduction Model (WARM), ICF International undertook a life-cycle analysis of the energy and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission benefits of recycling CRT TVs. Other human health and environmental impacts, while important, are not included in this analysis. Recycling CRT TVs is an open-loop process, meaning that components are recycled into secondary materials rather than directly into new televisions. Our analysis accounts for demanufacturing energy, transportation, and non-energy process emissions.

We estimate that net GHG emissions from recycling one short ton of CRT TVs range from an emission of 0.05 metric tons of carbon-equivalent GHGs, to a 0.12 reduction in carbon-equivalent emissions. Energy use in the recycling process ranges from 2.4 million Btus to a net energy savings of 2.7 million Btus per short ton of CRT TVs recycled. Combusting plastics contained in CRT TVs produces the largest amount of GHG emissions, but is the only case where energy recovery offsets the energy associated with recycling CRT TVs. Our results are sensitive to the assumed composition of CRT TVs, particularly the fraction of steel in CRT TVs relative to CRT glass and plastics.

A substantial fraction of the materials recovered from CRT TVs are sent overseas for recovery. We identify likely end-markets for metals, lead, CRT glass, and other materials, and discuss the data sources used to model end-of-life material pathways. 3,4,5 We also conduct a sensitivity analysis to investigate areas of uncertainty and compare our emission factor with similar studies. 6,7 The availability of life-cycle data for used and end-of-life electronics is poor, particularly with regard to overseas recycling and end-use markets and processes. More information on these subjects is needed to better understand CRT recycling pathways.

References

1. EPA. (2007). Electronics Waste Management in the United States: Approach 1. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
2. Peters, A. (2009). 2008 North American E-Scrap Processors Survey. Gracestone Inc., presentation at 2008 E-Scrap Conference.
3. EPA. (2006). Solid Waste Management and Greenhouse Gases: A Life-Cycle Assessment of Emissions and Sinks. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
4. Franklin Associates Ltd. (2001). Energy and Greenhouse Gas Factors for Personal Computers. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
5. Liu, X., Tanaka, M., & Matsui, Y. (2009). Economic evaluation of optional recycling processes for waste electronic home appliances. Journal of Cleaner Production, 17(1), 53-60.
6. EC. (2007). Ecodesign of EuP Products - Preparatory Studies LOT 5: Consumer Electronics, Television. European Commission (EC).
7. Socolof, M. L., Overly, J. G., Kincaid, L. E., & Geibig, J. R. (2001). Computer Display - A Life-Cycle Assessment. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
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