©2011 Ben Keet 1 Pilot Study Bromine containing Polymers at SIMS Recycling Auckland, New Zealand A study carried out for the Ministry for the Environment Drs. Ben Keet Geo & Hydro – K8 Ltd

Br concentration range Ben Keet 2 Sample type max concentrations found Average PCB concentration low concentrations found WEEE/RoH EU limit of Br high calibration (Br) low calibration (Br) Limit Of Detection of XRF Note: Log Scale % Bromine

X-Ray Fluorescence Analysis - theory Ben Keet 3

X-Ray Fluorescence Analysis - theory Ben Keet 4

X-Ray Fluorescence Analysis - theory Ben Keet 5

Ben Keet 6 Calibrate the XRF instrument using polymer standards

X-Ray Fluorescence Analysis - Practice Ben Keet 7

X-Ray Fluorescence Analysis - Practice Ben Keet 8

Br in WEEE study Ben Keet 9 Break down into components 

Next: Demonstration: XRF analysis Followed by: Site Tour Think: Safety Watch out for: Forklift trucks Ben Keet 10

Key findings Ben Keet 11 Printed Circuit Boards (PCB) usually contain high levels of BFR (bromine over 100,000 mg/kg)

Ben Keet 12 Key findings (continued) Generally fans all contain BFR’s (bromine over 50,000 mg/kg)

Ben Keet 13 Key findings (continued) 50% of the laser printer toner cartridges have bromine over 50,000 mg/kg (75,000 – 180,000 mg/kg)

Ben Keet 14 Key findings (continued) Some items look alike but have very different BFR concentrations

Ben Keet 15 Key findings (continued) Often the plastic panels on one instrument seem to contain BFR’s at random. Example: Ricoh photocopier 50% of panels Br 10 – 20 % 50% of panels Br < %

Ben Keet 16 Key findings (continued) 50% of panels Br 10 – 20 %  50% of panels Br < % ↓

Ben Keet 17 Key findings (continued) Articles with a RoHS sticker still contain BFR components example item 3 IBM desktop computer made in China 2006, contains 2 fans both with over 80,000 mg/kg bromine concentration (8 %)

Ben Keet 18 Many small items which would not normally get hot Still have high Br levels Example telecom phone wire splitters Bromine up to 180,000 mg/kg (18 %) Key findings (continued)

Ben Keet 19 Finally – to confuse you all Not all articles close to heat sources contain BFR’s, Example: hair dryer (item 33) Br < 10 mg/kg (< % Key findings (continued)

Conclusions Ben Keet 20 Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) were found at significant levels in New Zealand’s Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) The BFRs ranged up to levels (>10%) far in excess of that permitted under the EU RoH (0.1%) in components of the majority of articles investigated Follow up analytical determinations would be needed to confirm BDEs as a principal component of the BFRs detected In order to meet the expectations of the COP-5 recommendation of Stockholm Convention on BDEs, these findings indicate that New Zealand may need to consider feasible options for the environmentally sound management of WEEE The handheld XRF analyser is a simple and effective instrument to identify Bromine in WEEE

Ben Keet 21 Thank you for your attention Questions - Discussion