Environmental Economic Benefit Assessment Research of Recycled Phosphor in Obsolete CRTs

Abstract

Lots of phosphors including rare earth elements (Y, Eu, Ce, Te, etc.) exists in the obsolete CRT TV sets and PC Monitor in recent years, on the other hand, the rare earth resources are scarce, and environmental pollution caused by primary rare earth ore mining is serious. To investigate the environmental benefits derived from recycling phosphors in CRT, the authors used treatment cost model for assessment from the viewing angle of environmental economic benefit. The environmental impacts of two rare earth elements flow modes: single flow mode and recycling flow mode have been evaluated respectively from both actual and virtual costs perspectives based on the treatment cost method. Considering the pollution and ecological destruction from the mining and the emission and mixing risks of pollutants from smelting, the treatment cost percentage of various stages and total treatment cost is estimated. It has been found that the virtual cost for the single flow mode is much higher than the actual cost. Moreover, the pollution control costs for two phosphor recycling processes have been studied as well. Compared with the single flow mode, the average actual and virtual savings for two recycling processes are estimated respectively, corresponding to the high cost of the single flow mode. Take 29 inch CRT as an example, the environmental benefits from the recycling flow mode save actual and virtual costs are estimated. Finally, the paper suggest the authorities support some fiscal subsidies to CRT recycle enterprise because their operating cost is higher than the economic benefits.

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Author Information
Xi Tian, Beijing University of Technology, China
Yu Gong, Beijing University of Technology, China
Yu-feng Wu, Beijing University of Technology, China
Tie-yong Zuo, Beijing University of Technology, China

• Category: Environmental Sustainability and Human Consumption: Waste

Posted by James Alexander Gordon

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