Modern methods of disposal of household waste. Modern methods of waste disposal

Materials accepted at landfills:

• Household waste from residential buildings, institutions, enterprises engaged in the trade of industrial and food products.
• Waste from construction organizations that can be equated to municipal solid waste.
• Industrial waste of the 4th hazard class can be accepted if their amount does not exceed one third of the accepted waste.

Waste, the import of which is prohibited to the landfill:

• Construction waste of the 4th hazard class, which contains asbestos, ash, and slag.
• Industrial waste 1, 2, 3 hazard class.
• radioactive waste.
• Landfills are arranged according to strict sanitary standards and only in those areas where the risk of human infection with bacteria through air or water is minimized. The occupied area is designed for approximately 20 years.

Composting

This processing method is familiar to gardeners who use decayed organic materials to fertilize plants. Waste composting is a disposal method based on the natural decomposition of organic materials.

Today, a method is known for composting even an unsorted stream of household waste.

It is quite possible to get compost from garbage, which could later be used in agriculture. Many factories were built in the USSR, but they stopped functioning due to the large amount of heavy metals in the garbage.

Today, composting technologies in Russia are reduced to the fermentation of unsorted waste in bioreactors.

The resulting product cannot be used in agriculture, so it finds application right there, in landfills - they are covered with waste.

This disposal method is considered effective provided that the plant is equipped with high-tech equipment. Metals, batteries, and plastics are first removed from the waste.

Advantages of incineration:

• less unpleasant odors;
• the number of harmful bacteria, emissions decreases;
• the resulting mass does not attract rodents and birds;
• it is possible to obtain energy (thermal and electrical) during combustion.

Flaws:

• expensive construction and operation of waste incineration plants;
• construction takes at least 5 years;
• when waste is burned, harmful substances enter the atmosphere;
• incineration ash is toxic and cannot be stored in conventional landfills. This requires special storage.

Due to the lack of city budgets, inconsistency with waste processing companies and for other reasons, the production of waste incineration plants has not yet been established in Russia.

Pyrolysis, its types and advantages

Pyrolysis is the burning of garbage in special chambers that prevent the access of oxygen.. There are two kinds:

• High temperature - combustion temperature in the furnace over 900°C.
• Low temperature - from 450 to 900°C.

When comparing conventional incineration as a waste disposal method and low-temperature pyrolysis, the following advantages of the second method can be distinguished:

• obtaining pyrolysis oils, which are subsequently used in the production of plastics;
• the release of pyrolysis gas, which is obtained in sufficient quantities to ensure the production of energy carriers;
• the minimum amount of harmful substances is released;
• pyrolysis plants process almost all types of household waste, but the waste must first be sorted.

High-temperature pyrolysis, in turn, has advantages over low-temperature pyrolysis:

• no need to sort waste;
• the mass of the ash residue is much less, and it can be used for industrial and construction purposes;
• at a combustion temperature above 900 ° C, hazardous substances decompose without getting into the environment;
• the resulting pyrolysis oils do not require purification, as they have a sufficient degree of purity.

Each of the waste recycling methods has advantages, but everything depends on the cost of installations: the more efficient and profitable the disposal method, the more expensive its installation and the longer the payback period. Despite these shortcomings, the state is striving to implement projects for efficient and safe waste processing, realizing that these technologies are the future.

Over the past 30 years, mankind has spent a third of the resources available on Earth. Every year, resource consumption increases by one and a half percent. Therefore, the conservation of natural resources, the search for alternative resources, the recycling of raw materials, and the reuse of waste are of such importance.

Over the past century, the population of the Earth has increased 4 times, the volume of industrial production has increased almost 20 times. But modern technology does not allow to properly purify air and water, to dispose of production waste. Currently, about 80 billion tons of garbage have been accumulated in the dumps. And these mountains are growing because only a third of the by-products are processed.
Well-known convenient plastic bottles. They decompose in the ground for hundreds of years, while a tin can takes 10 years, and cardboard only 1-2 years. In general, the decomposition time of polyethylene depends on its structure and can exceed several thousand years.

You can also make fuel for cars from plastic bottles. This is a worker of a plastic waste recycling plant, holding a jar of fuel oil, Hong Kong, August 24, 2011. Here, in the future, they will be able to turn 3 tons of old plastic into 1,000 liters of fuel.
By the way, this year the specialists of a Russian company from the city of Tomsk presented an installation that is capable of obtaining as much as 900 grams of fuel from 1 kilogram of crushed plastic bottles.

Askarova Ekaterina

Abstract with presentation

Download:

Preview:

Municipal educational institution

"Secondary school No. 6"

ABSTRACT ON TECHNOLOGY on the topic

"New household recycling technology

And production waste in the modern world»

(school scientific and practical conference"_Live the Earth")

10th grade students

Askarova Ekaterina Sergeevna

Head E.V. Shirokov

Pelagiad

2013

R E C E N Z I A

on the essay of a 10th grade student Ekaterina Askarova on the topic "New technologies for processing household and industrial waste in the modern world."
Reviewer teacher of technology Shirokova E.V.

The abstract submitted for the preparation of feedback and review corresponds to the level of educational and research work of the student in the subject area of ​​technology. The topic of the abstract is relevant and is devoted to one of the important research problems - the creation of safe waste-free technologies in the modern world.

Based on the study of a fairly large amount of research literature, the abstract summarizes the results of a study of environmental problems of human technogenic activity. The ways of solving environmental problems of environmental pollution by production waste in Russia and in the world are considered.

The undoubted advantage of the abstract is the study of promising technologies for secondary production. Since an intensive way to solve the global environmental problem is the reduction of resource-intensive production and the transition to low-waste technologies.

In general, the work complies with the requirements for the design of a student essay.

1. Introduction. Ecological problems of modern civilization ………. 3

2. Do not turn the planet into a dump……………………………………………..

3. Disposal of waste from medical institutions …………...

4. Modern technologies for the processing of municipal solid waste ...

5. Creation and development of non-waste production in Russia……………..

6. Perspective technologies of secondary plastics……………………….

7. World experience of secondary production resources……………………….

8.Conclusion…………………………………………………………………...

9. References……………………………………………………………

Introduction

Ecological problems of modern civilization

Currently, human economic activity is increasingly becoming the main source of air and environmental pollution. Large quantities of gaseous, liquid and solid industrial wastes enter the natural environment. Various chemicals that are in the waste, getting into the soil, air or water, pass through the ecological links from one chain to another, and eventually enter the human body. It is impossible to find a place on the globe where pollutants were not present in one or another concentration. Even in the ice of Antarctica, where there are no industrial facilities, and people live only at small stations, scientists have found toxic substances of industrial origin. They are brought here by the currents of atmospheric air. Even a short-term effect of some of them on the human body can cause dizziness, cough, sore throat, nausea, and vomiting. Ingestion of toxic substances in high concentrations can lead to loss of consciousness, acute poisoning and even death. An example of such an action is smog formed in large cities or accidental releases of toxic substances into the atmosphere by industrial enterprises.

The technologies used by mankind are focused primarily on the use of non-renewable natural resources. These are oil, coal, ores, etc. At the same time, their use technologically entails disturbances in the surrounding world: soil fertility and the amount of fresh water decrease, the atmosphere is polluted.

For a year, only 5 billion tons of carbon dioxide are emitted into the atmosphere. As a result, the ozone layer becomes thinner and ozone holes appear. Ultraviolet rays rush into these holes, from which people develop cancer. There is less and less oxygen on Earth. And the exhaust gases of the plants of the black and chemical industries, boiler houses, and transport are more and more.

Scientists have calculated that every year around the world so many harmful substances get into water bodies that they could fill 10 thousand freight trains. Even washing powder has been found in Arctic waters.

The soil is formed slowly: it takes hundreds and even thousands of years for this. But it can be destroyed very quickly. Over the past hundred years, approximately 1/4 of all fertile soils have been destroyed on Earth.

Let's not turn the planet into a dump

Today, using the established technologies, humanity has a diverse structure of all kinds of waste of domestic and industrial origin. These wastes, gradually accumulating, turned into a real disaster.The most commonUntil recently, the method of dealing with household waste in cities - taking them to landfills - does not solve the problem, but frankly, it exacerbates it. Landfills are not only an epidemiological hazard, they inevitably become a powerful source of biological pollution. The main component of biogas - methane - is recognized as one of the culprits of the greenhouse effect, the destruction of the ozone layer of the atmosphere and other global disasters. In total, more than a hundred toxic substances enter the environment from waste. Landfills often burn, releasing toxic smoke into the atmosphere.

Huge territories have been alienated for decades as landfills for garbage, they, of course, could be used with greater benefit. And, finally, in order to equip the landfill and keep it up to modern environmental requirements, large funds are needed. The reclamation of closed (no longer active) landfills is very expensive. This is a whole range of measures, the purpose of which is to stop the harmful effects of landfills on the environment, including soil and groundwater. The reclamation of just one hectare of landfill today costs 6 million rubles. Transportation costs for transporting waste are also high, since landfills are usually located far from the city.

The amount of accumulated garbage is constantly growing. Now it is from 150 to 600 kg per year for every city dweller. Most garbage is produced in the USA (520 kg per year per inhabitant), in Norway, Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands - 200-300 kg, in Moscow - 300-320 kg.

In order for paper to decompose in the natural environment, it takes from two to ten years, a tin can - more than 90 years, a cigarette filter - 100 years, a plastic bag - more than 200 years, plastic - 500 years, glass - more than 1000 years. Think about this before throwing an old plastic bag or bottle into the woods.

Modern household and industrial waste contains a lot of extremely slowly decomposing plastics (polymeric materials). With new polymeric materials, the situation is better - they contain light-sensitive molecular groups that are easily absorbed by microorganisms. The rate of decomposition of such polymeric waste

increases many times over, there is no need to burn them in high-temperature furnaces.

The United States remains one of the most "littered" countries in the world; up to 160 million garbage is generated there annually. A column of ten-ton trucks loaded with this garbage would stretch from the Earth to the Moon, and the 18 billion disposable diapers that Americans throw away every year can be stretched from the Earth to the Moon 7 times.

The porous styroform used to make disposable cups is environmentally hazardous. If you arrange the glasses used in a year in a row, they will encircle the Earth at the equator 463 times. This plastic does not decompose in nature, and during its production from expensive oil, chlorocarbons are released into the atmosphere, which destroy the ozone layer.

In the US, only 20% of the garbage is recycled, the rest is concentrated in landfills. Up to 1/3 of this waste is containers. Americans spend 75% of their glass, 50% paper, 40% aluminum, 40% plastic, 8% steel on packaging. Every hour Americans use 2.5 million plastic bottles. The governments of developed countries are beginning to pay more and more attention to environmental issues and encourage the creation of appropriate technologies. Systems for cleaning territories from garbage and technologies for its incineration are being developed. However, there are plenty of reasons to believe that waste incineration technologies are a dead end. Already at present, the cost of burning 1 kg of garbage is 65 cents. If you do not switch to other waste disposal technologies, the costs will increase. At the same time, it should be borne in mind that such new technologies are needed that, over time, could provide, on the one hand, the consumer needs of the population, and, on the other hand, the preservation of the environment.

Disposal of waste from medical institutions

Unfortunately, in our country, 90% of waste is buried (deposited) at landfills, although this is associated with transportation costs and the alienation of large territories. In addition, polygons are often not

meet elementary sanitary and hygienic requirements and are secondary sources of environmental pollution. But

while most waste can still be disposed of relatively safely by depositing, some types, such as medical

waste must be recycled. They differ significantly from other wastes and require special attention. They contain a danger to humans, primarily due to the constant presence in them

composition of pathogens of various infectious diseases, toxic, and often radioactive substances.

By 2005, according to generalized data, about 1.8 billion tons of them had already accumulated in the world, which is approximately 300 kg per inhabitant of the planet.

Injection needles and syringes are of particular concern because improper handling after use can lead to reuse. According to WHO, in 2000 only as a result of the reuse of syringes were infected:

• 21 million people - hepatitis B virus(HBV) (32% of all new infections);
• two million people with hepatitis C virus(HCV) (40% of all new infections); and
• at least 260,000 people have HIV (5% of all new infections).

Modern technologies for the processing of municipal solid waste

The most promising way to solve the problem of urban landfills is waste recycling. The following main directions in processing have been developed: organic matter is used to produce fertilizers, textile and paper waste is used to produce new paper, and scrap metal is sent for remelting. The main problem in recycling is waste sorting and development of technological processes for recycling.

The proposed modern technologies allow us to simultaneously solve the problem of waste disposal and create local energy sources. Thus, the garbage will return to us not in the form of sprawling landfills and polluted water, but in the form of electricity through wires, heat in radiators or vegetables and fruits grown in greenhouses.

Pre sorting.This technological process provides for the separation of municipal solid waste into fractions at waste processing plants manually or using automated conveyors. This includes the process of reducing the size of waste components by shredding and sifting them, as well as the extraction of more or less large metal objects, such as cans. Their selection as the most valuable secondary raw material precedes the further disposal of MSW (for example, incineration).

Sanitary earth filling.Such a technological approach to the disposal of municipal solid waste is associated with the production of biogas and its subsequent use as a fuel. For this purpose, household waste is covered by a certain technology with a layer of soil 0.6 m thick in

compacted form. Biogas landfills are equipped with ventilation pipes, blowers and tanks for biogas collection.

high temperature pyrolysis.This method of disposal of solid waste, in essence, is nothing more than gasification of garbage. The technological scheme of this method involves the production of secondary synthesis gas from the biological component (biomass) in order to use it to produce steam, hot water, and electricity. An integral part of the process of high-temperature pyrolysis are solid products in the form of slag, i.e., non-pyrolyzable residues.

Burning. This is a widespread method for the destruction of municipal solid waste, which has been widely used since the end of the 19th century. The complexity of direct disposal of MSW is due, on the one hand, to their exceptional multicomponent nature, on the other hand, to increased sanitary requirements for the process of their processing. In this regard, incineration is still the most common method of primary treatment of household waste. Incineration of household waste, in addition to reducing the volume and weight, allows you to get additional energy resources that can be used for district heating and electricity generation.

Processing of combustible waste.The proposed gasification technology makes it possible to process combustible waste in a closed reactor to produce combustible gas. The following types of waste can be recycled:

• combustible fraction of municipal solid waste (MSW) isolated during sorting;
• solid industrial waste - non-toxic solid waste produced by industrial, commercial and other centers, for example: plastic, cardboard, paper, etc.;
• solid combustible products of automotive processing: most automotive plastics, rubber, foam, fabric, wood, etc.;
• wastewater after drying (the most efficient wastewater treatment is achieved using biothermal technology);
• dry biomass such as wood waste, sawdust, bark, etc.

The gasification process is a modular technology. A valuable product of processing is combustible gas produced in volumes from 85 to 100 m 3 per minute. The gas can be used to produce heat/electricity for related industries or for sale.

Processing of rotting waste.The organic fraction of MSW obtained as a result of sorting, as well as waste from farms and sewage treatment plants, can be anaerobically processed to produce methane and compost suitable for agricultural and horticultural work.

Organic processing takes place in reactors, where methane-producing bacteria convert organic matter into biogas and humus.

Recycling of used tires.Tires are processed using low-temperature pyrolysis technology to produce electricity, a sorbent for water treatment, or high-quality carbon black suitable for the production of tires.

Dismantling lines for old cars.For the recycling of old cars, the technology of industrial dismantling is used, which allows the reuse of individual parts. The economic efficiency of the enterprise is ensured by the sale of automotive parts and sorted materials. For efficient operation of the plant, depending on transport tariffs, 25,000 skeletons of old cars should be available within a radius of 25-30 km from the plant. In general, the plant requires a site of at least 20,000 m 2 . The supply of the industrial dismantling line includes training of operating personnel at the customer's site and in Western Europe, training in enterprise management and training in organizing the collection of old vehicles and selling spare parts and materials.

Disposal of medical waste.The proposed medical waste treatment technology sterilizes such types of medical waste as needles, lancets, medical containers, metal probes, glass, biological cultures, physiological substances, medicines, syringes, filters, vials, diapers, catheters, laboratory waste, etc. Medical waste treatment technology grinds and sterilizes waste so that it turns into a dry, homogeneous, odorless dust (granules with a diameter of 1-2 mm). This residue is a completely inert product, does not contain microorganisms and does not have bactericidal properties. The rest can be disposed of as normal municipal waste or used in landscaping.

The proposed modern technologies allow us to simultaneously solve the problem of waste disposal and create local energy sources. Thus, garbage will return to us not in the form of sprawling landfills and polluted water, but in the form of electricity through wires, heat in radiators, or vegetables and fruits grown in greenhouses.

Creation and development of non-waste production

What are the ways to solve the global environmental problem of environmental pollution with industrial waste?The creation of even the most advanced treatment facilities cannot solve the problem of environmental protection.An intensive way to solve the global environmental problem is the reduction of resource-intensive production and the transition to low-waste technologies.

Waste-free production is such a production in which all the raw materials are eventually converted into a particular product and which, at the same time, is simultaneously optimized in terms of technological,

economic and socio-ecological criteria. The fundamental novelty of this approach to the further development of industrial production is due to the impossibility of effectively solving the problems of environmental protection and the rational use of natural resources only by improving the methods of neutralization, recycling, processing or disposal of waste. The concept of non-waste production provides for the need to include the sphere of consumption in the cycle of using raw materials. In other words, products after physical or obsolescence must be returned to the sphere of production. Thus, non-waste production is a practically closed system, organized by analogy with natural ecological systems, the functioning of which is based on the biogeochemical cycle of matter.

Waste-free production involves the cooperation of industries with a large amount of waste (the production of phosphate fertilizers, thermal power plants, metallurgical, mining and processing industries) with the production - consumer of these wastes, for example, building materials enterprises. In this case, the waste fully meets the definition of D. I. Mendeleev, who called them "neglected products of chemical transformations, which eventually become the starting point of a new production."

Secondary production resources in Russia

Waste generation in the Russian economy is 3.4 billion tons per year, including 2.6 billion tons / year - industrial waste, 700 million tons / year - liquid waste from poultry and livestock, 35-40 million tons / year - solid waste, 30 million tons / year - sediments from treatment facilities. The average level of their use is about 26%, including industrial waste is recycled by 35%, MSW - by 3-4%, the rest of the waste is practically not recycled.

The low level of waste utilization (with the exception of their individual types - scrap of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, as well as fairly high-quality types of waste paper, textile and polymer waste in terms of raw materials) is mainly due not to the lack of technology, but to the fact that the processing of most of the waste into as secondary raw materials is characterized by low profitability or is generally unprofitable.

According to the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia, 2.4 thousand hazardous waste disposal sites have been taken into account. The conditions for the disposal of such waste in many cases do not meet the environmental requirements in force in Russia and the standards accepted in the world. As a result, the impact of waste accumulation and disposal sites on the environment often exceeds the establishedMPC . There are many examples when such an excess is tens and hundreds of times.

Many different types of waste can be recycled. For each type of raw material there is a corresponding processing technology. Various types of waste are used to separate waste into different materials.separation , for example, to extract metal - magnetic.

Most metals are expediently recycled. Unnecessary or damaged items, the so-called scrap metal, are handed over to recycling centers for subsequent remelting. The processing of non-ferrous metals (copper, aluminium, tin), common technical alloys (win) and some ferrous metals (cast iron) are especially advantageous. a significant amount of waste generation in Russia;

Paper recycling is possible: old papers are soaked, cleaned and shredded to obtain fibers -cellulose . Further, the process is identical to the process of making paper from timber.

To date, the government is considering proposals for the creation of the Russian system of secondary resources.

"Vtoravtoresursy" - ensuring the collection and acceptance of decommissioned vehicles, their disaggregation, primary processing and marketing of the resulting secondary raw materials, as well as the collection and primary processing of waste resulting from the operation of vehicles - tires, batteries and battery electrolytes, oily filters , plastic parts;

"Vtortekhresursy" - providing collection and reception of obsolete complex household appliances and radio-electronic equipment (computer equipment, copiers, faxes, TVs, washing machines

etc.), their degassing, primary processing and marketing of the resulting secondary raw materials;

"Vtorresursy" - providing the procurement of waste paper, packaging waste from laminated paper, polymer film and other polymer waste, PET bottles, textile waste, cullet and other types of traditional secondary raw materials.

In addition, production links or partnerships should be established with Rtutservice (fluorescent lamps and other mercury-containing waste), Vtornefteprodukt, Vtorchermet and Vtortsvetmet systems already operating on the secondary raw materials market.

The implementation of the proposal to create a Russian system of secondary resources will fundamentally change the organizational, legal and economic conditions for the procurement and processing of secondary raw materials in Russia. The level of use of the main types of secondary raw materials will increase 5 years after the commissioning of the system by at least 30%, for a number of positions by 1.5-2 times, the loss of natural raw materials contained in waste will decrease. The level of environmental pollution with waste will significantly decrease.

New jobs will be created, which will have a positive impact on the socio-economic indicators of most regions of Russia.

One of the conditions for Russia's accession to the WTO will be fulfilled (in terms of ratification of EU Directive No. 62 of 1994 "On packaging and packaging waste").

Promising technologies for recycled plastics

The main mechanical method of recycling PET waste is shredding, which is subjected to substandard tape, molding waste, partially drawn or undrawn fibers. Such processing makes it possible to obtain powdered materials and chips for subsequent injection molding. It is characteristic that during grinding the physicochemical properties of the polymer practically do not change.

The proposed technologies make it possible to process only uncontaminated technological waste, leaving food packaging unaffected, as a rule, heavily contaminated with protein and mineral impurities, the removal of which is associated with significant capital investments.

costs, which is not always economically feasible for processing on a medium and small scale.

Technology of casting products from mixtures of secondary polymers.Shredded polymeric wastes are mixed to homogenize the composition of the mixture. At the mixing stage, the necessary ones are added (light and heat stabilizers, dyes, etc.). The prepared mixture is fed into the extruder. The technology is based on filling a special injection mold due to the pressure created by the extruder. Today, such equipment is used to manufacture decorative fencing elements (bollards, decorative fencing details, etc.), which are beginning to be used in the city improvement program. For example, columns made of polymer waste molded “for iron casting” are much cheaper than cast iron ones. The range of products can be very diverse.

Pressing technology.This technology involves a polymer melt, its dosing into a mold mounted on a vertical hydraulic press, pressing the product and cooling it in the mold.. The advantage of this technology is the use of relatively inexpensive equipment and molds. However, this technology makes higher demands on the initial secondary raw materials, namely, on itssorting. Using this technology, flooring slabs and transport pallets are made from recycled materials.

Nonwoven materials.Western experts estimate that 60 to 70% of recycled PET is used to produce fibers and nonwovens. In Russia today, no more than 15% of the collected recycled PET is processed into products, the bulk of which is sold in the form of “flexes” outside the country, mostly to China. The low level of processing is associated with the high cost of imported equipment for the production of fibers and nonwovens.
Today, equipment is being produced for the manufacture of non-woven bulk materials from thermoplastic fiber-forming polymers (including recycled PET) using the technology of aerodynamic melt spraying. The air flow forms a fiber from the melt and sprays it onto a rotating collector-collector, on which the fibers are thermally bonded, and a non-woven bulk material is formed.

Materials obtained by this technology can be used for the manufacture of sorbents for petroleum products, various filters for liquids, gases and aerosols, as well as insulation for clothes, fillers for furniture and soft toys.
Thus, all of the above indicates that today

There are and are already used in the production of domestic technologies and equipment that make it possible to produce highly profitable products from polymer waste.

World experience of secondary production resources

In economically developed countries, less and less household waste is taken to landfills and more and more is processed industrially. The most effective of them is thermal. It makes it possible to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills by almost 10 times, and the unburned residue no longer contains organic substances that cause decay, spontaneous combustion and the danger of epidemics.

Against the backdrop of a decline in the last 10 years of the role of the state in the management of waste processing in Russia, in the developed countries of the world, on the contrary, the degree of state influence in this area has increased. In order to reduce the cost of products using waste, tax incentives have been introduced. To attract investment in the creation of waste processing facilities, a system of soft loans has been created, including partially reimbursable and non-reimbursable loans in case of unsuccessful decisions. In order to stimulate demand for waste-based products, a number of countries impose restrictions on the consumption of waste-free products and increase the use of the system of city and municipal orders for waste-based products.

There is a company in Europe that recycles processors and extracts gold from them. This is done something like this: processors are removed from computers and other equipment and immersed in a chemical solution (in which nitrogen is present), resulting in a precipitate that is subsequently melted down and becomes gold bars.

Scientists from the Netherlands presented the latest developments in the field of waste processing - an improved technology that, without pre-sorting, within one system, separates and purifies all the waste that enters it, to the original raw materials. The system completely recycles all types of waste (medical, household, technical) in a closed cycle, without residue. Raw materials are completely cleaned of impurities (harmful substances, dyes, etc.), packed and can be reused. At the same time, the system is environmentally neutral.

In Germany, a TUV plant was built and tested, which has been successfully operating on this technology for 10 years in a test mode. At the moment

The Dutch government is considering building a similar plant in their country.

Accumulators and batteries.To date, all types of batteries produced in Europe can be recycled, whether they are rechargeable or not. For recycling, it does not matter if the battery is charged, partially discharged or fully discharged. After the batteries are collected, they are sorted and then, depending on what type they are, the batteries are sent to the appropriate recycling plant. For example, alkaline batteries are recycled in the UK, while nickel-cadmium batteries are recycled in France. About 40 companies are involved in battery recycling in Europe.

Textiles and footwear.In many European countries, in addition to containers for collecting metal, plastic, paper and glass, containers for collecting used clothes, shoes and rags appeared at the garbage collection sites of sleeping areas.All rags go to the sorting center. This is where clothing that may still be usable is selected, which subsequently goes to charitable associations for the poor, churches and the red cross. Unsuitable clothes are carefully selected: all metal and plastic parts (buttons, snakes, buttons, etc.) are separated, then they are divided by type of fabric (cotton, linen, polyester, etc.). For example, denim goes to paper mills, where the fabric is shredded and soaked, after which the production process is identical to pulp. The method of making paper from cloth has remained unchanged for many centuries and was brought to Europe by Marco Polo when he first visited China. The result is two types of paper: 1. "Artistic" for watercolor or engraving with its own texture, strength and durability. 2. Paper for the production of banknotes.

Shoes undergo a similar sorting process: the sole is separated from the upper, the components are sorted by material type, and then sent to rubber, plastics, etc. discount, leaving your worn-out sneakers.

Conclusion

The true prospect of overcoming the ecological crisis is in changing the production activity of a person, his way of life, his consciousness. Scientific and technological progress creates not only overloads for nature; in the most advanced technologies, it provides a means to prevent negative impacts, creates opportunities for environmentally friendly production. There was not only an urgent need, but also the opportunity to change the essence of technological civilization, to give it an environmental character. One of the directions of such development is the creation of safe industries. Using the achievements of science, technological progress can be organized in such a way that production waste does not pollute the environment, but re-enters the production cycle as a secondary raw material. Nature itself provides an example: the carbon dioxide emitted by animals is absorbed by plants, which release the oxygen necessary for the respiration of animals. If we take into account that modern industry converts 98% of the feedstock into waste, then the need for the task of creating waste-free production becomes clear.

Some alternative (in relation to thermal, nuclear and hydroelectric power plants) energy sources are also environmentally friendly. It is necessary to quickly find ways of practical use of the energy of the sun, wind, tides, geothermal sources.

The ecological situation makes it necessary to assess the consequences of any activity related to interference with the natural environment.

Even F. Joliot-Curie warned: “We must not allow people to direct those forces of nature that they have managed to discover and conquer to their own destruction.”

Time does not wait. Our task is to stimulate by all available methods any initiative and entrepreneurship aimed at the creation and implementation of the latest technologies that contribute to the solution of any environmental problems. Contribute to the creation of a large number of control bodies, consisting of highly qualified specialists, on the basis of clearly developed legislation in accordance with international agreements on environmental issues. To constantly convey information to all states and peoples on ecology through radio, television and the press, thereby raising the ecological consciousness of people and contributing to their spiritual and moral revival in accordance with the requirements of the era.

Mankind has come to understand that the further development of technological progress is impossible without assessing the impact of new technologies on the ecological situation. The new connections created by man must be closed in order to ensure the invariability of those basic parameters of the planet Earth that affect its ecological stability.

In conclusion, I would like to recall the saying of Saint-Simon: "Happy will be the era in which ambition begins to see greatness and glory only in the acquisition of new knowledge and leaves the impure sources with which it tried to quench its thirst." These were the sources of disasters and vanity, quenching the thirst of only the ignorant, the heroes of the conquerors and the destroyers of the human race.

Bibliography:

1. Gorshkov S.P. Exodynamic processes of developed territories. – M.: Nedra, 1999.

2. Grigoriev A.A. Cities and the environment. Space research. – Thought, 2002.

3. Nikitin D.P., Novikov Yu.V. Environment and man. – 2007.

4. Odum Yu. Fundamentals of ecology. – World, 2004.

5. Radzevich N.N., Pashkang K.V. Protection and transformation of nature. – Enlightenment, 2005.

6. Samsonov A. L. Journal "Ecology and Life" - G. D. Syunkova, 2000.

7. Mirkin B. M, Naumova L. G. Ecology of Russia, 2006.

Significant climate change and biodiversity loss are just two of the many serious environmental problems that continue to grow globally. The world's population is now over 7 billion and there is growing concern about the lack of food, water, energy and other resources. To reduce environmental damage and resource scarcity, we need to get serious about recycling end-of-life items. Electronics recycling is very important.

Electronic waste (in English. e-waste) includes all end-of-life devices whose operation depends on electric current and / or electromagnetic fields. Phones, laptops, TVs, etc. turn into waste, becoming obsolete faster and faster, falling into disrepair to ensure the need to purchase new devices.

Electronic waste includes printed circuit boards, which, although they make up about 3% of the total amount of this type of waste, are very dangerous due to the high concentration of toxic substances. Such waste without proper disposal negatively affects the ecosystem, both biotic and abiotic parts of it. The presence of a variety of highly toxic materials and heavy metals makes landfilling or simple incineration unacceptable management methods for such waste. Therefore, the best way to dispose of electronic waste is to recycle it.

In addition to the fact that electronic waste is a great environmental hazard, it must be remembered that the production of mobile phones and personal computers consumes significant shares of the gold, silver and palladium mined annually around the world. Of course, each individual device contains a meager amount of precious metals, but if we consider the global production (more than 1.2 billion annually), then it is unreasonable to neglect this amount. It should be noted that the concentration of these precious metals in printed circuit boards is more than ten times higher than their concentration in the mined ore. However, the processing of printed circuit boards is a technologically complex process due to the heterogeneity of materials, because they consist of many dissimilar components.

The amount of electronic waste in Russia and in the world

According to some estimates, e-waste is approximately 8% of total household waste.

Unfortunately, it is very difficult to determine the exact amount of e-waste generated. As early as 10 years ago, UNEP estimated that e-waste was about 20-50 million tons per year (2005). In Russia, they are estimated at approximately 1.5 million tons.. The US Environmental Protection Agency has reported that each household in the US uses about 34 electronic devices and electrical appliances (2010 data). This results in an average of over 5 million tons of e-waste per year. For the EU, it has been calculated that on average each citizen generates about 15 kg of e-waste per year, resulting in 7 million tons of waste (2010 data).

Also, statistics show that China generates more than 1.1 million tons of electronic waste, in particular from the manufacturing industry. A recent study showed that the total amount of e-waste in India in 2007-2011 was 2.5 million tons, with an annual growth rate of e-waste of 7-10%.

In addition, the amount of e-waste in the newly industrialized and developing countries is growing due to the import of waste from developed countries. According to recent studies, currently up to 50-80% of e-waste generated in developed countries is shipped to developing countries for reuse and disposal, which is often contrary to international laws.

Electronics recycling

Recycling of e-waste is done both formally and informally. For official disposal, well-established methods are used to separate the necessary fractions from the waste. However, plants built in compliance with all the necessary requirements for technological processes are expensive both to build and to start up. In various underdeveloped and developing countries, where waste recycling is not adequately funded, it is often carried out informally and without compliance with the necessary requirements and standards, and pregnant women and children can work in such plants.

Hazardous chemicals in electronics

The most common routes of exposure to hazardous components of e-waste during recycling are ingestion of hazardous substances through skin contact and inhalation, through contaminated soil, water, food and air.

Hazardous chemicals in e-waste may be present either in their components or released during their processing. The main contaminants in e-waste are persistent organic pollutants (POPs), which have a long half-life. Some of the most common POPs released during processing are brominated flame retardants (BFRS) (polybrominated diphenyl ethers), polychlorinated biphenyls, hexabromocyclododecanes, polybromobiphenyls, dibrominated diphenyl ethers, polychlorinated or polybrominated dioxins. and di-benzofurans of dioxins. The POPs generated during the dismantling and smelting process consist of polychlorinated dibenzofurans, polychlorinated biphenyls and dioxins. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons appear due to incomplete combustion of fuels such as coal, gas, oil, etc. Heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, chromium, mercury, copper, manganese, nickel, arsenic, zinc are also dangerous.

PCB recycling technologies

The printed circuit board is one of the most important components of electronic equipment. They are a platform on which microelectronic components such as semiconductor chips and capacitors are mounted and interconnected. Board recycling includes three types of processing: pre-processing, physical processing and chemical processing. Pre-treatment includes dismantling of reusable and toxic elements, grinding or separation. Then comes the physical processing. The materials are then recovered by a chemical recycling process.

Physical Methods

mechanical processing

This is a physical processing method in which the disassembled parts are ground to the required size, after which they enter the fine grinding plant. The resulting powder is subjected to eddy currents in separators where the metals are separated due to their electrical conductivity. Then the powder is separated depending on the density and particle size. Stratification into various materials can be observed on the liquid column.

Air separation method

In this method, the separation of dispersed solids occurs due to the different particle sizes and their different densities. Particles suspended in the gas, mainly in air, take up different positions in the separator under the influence of different forces depending on the material. Heavy particles have a terminal settling velocity greater than the air velocity, while lighter particles have a terminal settling velocity less than the air velocity. Consequently, heavy particles move down against the air flow, while light particles rise with the air flow to the top of the separator.

Principle of Air Separation of PCB Waste

Electrostatic separation method

This method uses an electrostatic field to separate bulk materials, which acts on uncharged or polarized bodies. These technologies are used to process metals and plastics from industrial waste. Electrostatic separation technologies can be used to separate Cu, Al, Pb, Sn and iron, and some precious metals and plastics.

Magnetic separation

Magnetic separators are widely used to separate ferromagnetic metals from non-ferrous metals and other non-magnetic wastes. The disadvantage of magnetic separation is the agglomeration of particles, as a result of which the magnet pulls non-metallic inclusions together with ferromagnetic metals. Therefore, this method is not very efficient.

Chemical Methods

Pyrolysis

Pyrolysis is a chemical method that is widely used to process synthetic polymers, including glass fiber polymers. Pyrolysis of such polymers produces gases, hydrocarbons, and charred residue. These substances can later be used as chemical raw materials or fuels. The boards are heated to a temperature high enough to melt the solder used to bond the electrical components together. The charred conglomerate, which is also called "ferrous metal", contains a large percentage of copper, as well as small amounts of iron, calcium, nickel, zinc and aluminum, which can then be reduced.

Hydrometallurgical method

This method is mainly used for processing circuit boards in order to extract the metal fraction. The method consists in leaching metals using acid and alkali solutions, followed by electrorefining of the desired metals. This method is considered to be more flexible and energy efficient, hence cost effective. Commonly used lixiviants are aqua regia, nitric acid, sulfuric acid, and cyanide solutions. In the case of non-metallic substrates, metals leach into solution from the substrate. In the case of a metal substrate, electrochemical processing may be applied to recover metals. Thus, the hydrometallurgical method makes it possible to recover metals without any additional processing, while the rest of the materials in the board must be subjected to additional heat treatment before reuse or disposal. The main disadvantage of this method is the causticity and toxicity of the liquids used.

Biometallurgical separation method

This method has been used to extract precious metals and copper from ore for a long time, but it is still not very well developed. Microorganisms use metals present in the external environment and on the surface of cells for their intracellular functions. Each type of microorganism has a characteristic tendency to carry a specific metal in a specific environment. Bioleaching and biosorption are, in general, the two main areas of biometallurgy used to extract metals. Bioleaching has been successfully used to extract precious metals and copper from ores for many years. The same technique can be applied to recover copper and other valuable metals from PCB waste.

Gasification

The main application of the gasification process is the generation of synthesis gas (CO, H2). Gasification takes place at approximately 1600°C and a pressure of approximately 150 bar. Hydrogen-rich synthesis gas is the main product of gasification and is a valuable feedstock for methanol production. After appropriate processing, some fractions of this gas can be used to produce heat and electricity.

The principle of the gasification process of PCB waste

Application of physical and chemical processing methods

Benefits of physical processing methods such as magnetic separators, separators that separate materials according to density, etc., regarding chemical processing is that they do not require large financial investments, they are relatively simple, convenient, less polluting, less costly energy. Metal fractions obtained by physical processing methods can be used commercially without significant recovery procedures. However, for commercial use of non-metallic fractions, they must be subjected to chemical processing. Thus, physical processing methods are more cost-effective for processing metal fractions than non-metallic ones. The main purpose of chemical processing methods, such as pyrolysis, is to convert polymers contained in non-metallic fractions into chemical feedstocks or fuels. Chemical processing methods have advantages in converting bromine flame retardants and recovering heavy metals left over from physical processing methods.

The use of non-metallic fractions of printed circuit boards

A large amount of non-metallic PCB waste, which is often hazardous to people and the environment (due to the presence of brominated flame retardants and heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, beryllium, etc.), is dumped in landfills. To prevent this, it is necessary to find their optimal use.

Non-metallic fractions are obtained easier than cement and sand, their granules are much smaller, therefore, they have a more reliable microstructure. The mechanical strength of the material increases in the presence of coarse glass fibers. Therefore, due to the above properties, non-metallic fractions can be successfully used as a filler in building materials, for the manufacture of adhesives and decorative agents.

A technique has been developed for the use of non-metallic fractions of printed circuit boards in the production of non-metallic plates, which can be used to obtain composite plates. Composite boards are used in many areas, including the automotive industry, furniture, various equipment and finishing materials.

Phenolic compounds are used in the production of radio components and kitchen utensils. With decreasing forest resources and rising costs, manufacturers are looking for alternatives to wood flooring. Non-metallic fractions of paper-based printed circuit boards seem to be a good replacement for a wooden floor.

Conclusion

Recycling of electronics is very important, as the components of technical equipment and electronic items are more resources than waste. Recyclable electronic components contain a sufficiently high content of useful resources, which makes their recovery economically viable. But minimizing the environmental impact we achieve by recycling electronics is much more important!