Waste management options (hazardous landfilling, municipal landfilling, pyrometallurgy, hydrometallurgy, and closed-loop recycling) are evaluated for cathode ray tube (CRT) funnel glass from environmental and economic standpoints. The costs and revenues are modeled using technical cost modeling (TCM). The environmental consequences are modeled using life cycle assessment (LCA), using CML2001 and Eco-indicator'99. The LCA study shows that the CRT closed loop recycling is the best option in terms of sustainability. Second best is the hydrometallurgy process, because it avoids consumption of new raw materials and energy. The pyrometallurgy and hazardous waste landfill options have lower environmental impact compared with the municipal landfill but have high uncertainty. The economic analysis indicates the importance of transportation costs. Closed-loop recycling is most economical, but demand for waste CRT glass is declining. Under these conditions, extracting lead from the CRT funnel glass via the hydrometallurgy method is the preferred waste management option.

Environmental life cycle and economic assessment of CRT funnel glass waste management options

246th National Meeting (2013)

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