Feasibility of using Radio Frequency identification to facilitate individual producer responsibility for waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Darren Hoyne

Overview Why IPR? Benefits of RFID Challenges facing RFID Experiments

Why are we pushing for IPR? EPR does not truly encourage better design – Black Box Payment If Producer is only responsible for own waste – More incentive Reduce Environmental impact through reuse

Benefits of RFID Product linked to database with info on how to dismantle Info on location of hazardous materials Advantages on selecting most appropriate EOL option

Challenges facing RFID Past Experiments showed overall read rate of 30% High metal content in mixed WEEE causes issues for tags  Antenna Detuned  Loss of signal strength

Experiments Lab experiment to test tags Field Experiments  Experimental setup for white goods  Mixed WEEE

RFID System Tag : Size, type, read distance, orientation sensitivity Reader: Type(handheld), reader orientation, read time, power Environment: cage type, number of contents, temperature etc..

Lab Experiment Distinguish most suitable Tags Read Distance and Orientation Sensitivity 2 substances used – Steel and plastic

Results of Lab experiment

Setup for white goods Stacked neatly in foot container Read distance restricted by container Washing Machines, dryers, refrigerators etc...

Results of White goods 100% Readability was achieved on 25 items in 20 foot container This would be target in an ideal system Attributed to bulk of goods and uniform stacking method.

Mixed WEEE Setup Stored in metal cages No structure to stacking Amount of products varies 78 tagged appliances tagged with the 3 different tags used

Results from mixed WEEE

Conclusion Results support that RFID can be used to support IPR Real world application with white goods still at concept level Research to improve RFIDs could lead to higher Read percentage in mixed WEE

Questions?