Life cycle assessment and recycling

• What is the weight of electrical and electronic equipment that the WEEE man is made from?

  Over 3 tonnes
• What does recycling metals involve?

  Recycling metals involves processing used metals to create new products.
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of recycling metals compared to extracting them from ores?

  Advantages:

  • Natural reserves of metal ores last longer
  • Reduced need for mining, which can damage landscapes
  • Less pollution produced during recycling
  • Lower energy requirements for recycling
  • Less waste metal in landfills

  
  

  Disadvantages:

  • Costs and energy used in collection and sorting
  • Sometimes more expensive than extraction
• How much waste does every UK household produce each year?

  1 tonne
• What is the EU target for recycling waste by 2030?

  The target is to reach 70% recycling.
• How much waste electrical and electronic equipment is thrown away in the UK each year?

  2 million tonnes
• What is the estimated worth of precious metals in waste electrical and electronic equipment in the UK?

  About £1 billion
• How much of the precious metals in WEEE is worth aluminium?

  About £36,000,000
• How are many metals recycled?

  By melting them down and making them into something new.
• What is one environmental benefit of recycling metals?

  It helps natural reserves of metal ores last longer.
• What is a disadvantage of recycling metals?

  It can be more expensive than extracting new metal.
• What is a life cycle assessment (LCA)?

  • A method to evaluate the environmental impact of a product
  • Helps decide if manufacturing and recycling a product is worthwhile
  • Can compare effects of different materials for the same product
• What is the first stage in a life cycle assessment?

  Obtaining and processing raw materials
• What is the second stage in a life cycle assessment?

  Manufacturing and packaging the product
• What is the third stage in a life cycle assessment?

  Using the product
• What is the fourth stage in a life cycle assessment?

  Disposal of product
• Why should a life cycle assessment be carried out before making a new product?

  To evaluate the environmental impact and resource use.
• How much energy is needed to produce 1 kg of aluminium from bauxite?

  285,000 kJ
• How much energy is needed to produce 1 kg of aluminium from recycled aluminium?

  14,000 kJ
• What is the process of producing aluminium from bauxite?

  1. 5 kg of bauxite produces 1.9 kg of aluminium oxide, which produces 1.0 kg of aluminium during electrolysis.
• What was the Colossus of Rhodes made from?

  Bronze from abandoned weapons
• When was the Colossus of Rhodes completed?

  280 BCE
• What happened to the Colossus of Rhodes?

  It was destroyed by an earthquake in 226 BCE.
• How long after its completion was the Colossus of Rhodes recycled?

  About 800 years later
• What is one question to ask during a life cycle assessment?

  What raw materials are needed?
• What is another question to ask during a life cycle assessment?

  How much energy is needed for the manufacture and packaging of the product?
• What is a third question to ask during a life cycle assessment?

  How will the product be disposed of?
• What is a fourth question to ask during a life cycle assessment?

  Where will the energy come from?
• What is a fifth question to ask during a life cycle assessment?

  What will the product be used for?
• What is one advantage of recycling copper over obtaining it from ores?

  It reduces the environmental impact of mining.
• What is another advantage of recycling copper over obtaining it from ores?

  It conserves natural resources.
• What factors should be considered in the life cycle assessment of aluminium?

  • Energy consumption in production
  • Environmental impact of mining
  • Recycling processes and their efficiency
  • Economic costs of extraction vs. recycling
  • Long-term sustainability of resources