Characterization Of Electronic waste At Agbogbeloshie Dumpsite- A Waste Stream Analysis

ABSTRACT

Background:

In Ghana, waste management authorities need to know the characteristics of waste. However, little or no research has been done on e-waste characterization thus, presenting a big challenge to any plans for design and implementation of recycling and management programs. Characterization of e-waste involves identifying and quantifying the types of waste, as well as the valuable and hazardous components, and understanding the nature of the waste. This study, therefore, characterized e-waste arriving at Agbogbloshie dumpsite, one of the largest in the country and the world.

Methods:

Waste stream analysis was conducted at the e-waste dumpsite to characterize the components of the waste stream. Three routes of entry to the site were selected to be points at which waste entering the site was intercepted, segregated, with different components identified and described. A descriptive analysis was conducted on all e-waste items that end up at the site by describing their physical and chemical characteristics, and their hazardous and valuable components.

Results:

E-waste components such as refrigerators, televisions, microwaves, computers, etc. were found at the dumpsite. It was observed that some components of the waste stream such as medical devices did not arrive at the dumpsite. We found an annual generation of e-waste averaging approximately 798.20 metric tons at the dumpsite. E-waste components characterized were observed to contain valuable contents such as gold, silver, etc. as well as hazardous contents such as mercury, ammonia, ozone, etc. Physical characteristics of some e-waste components characterized included sensors, valves, coils, etc. and the chemical nature of these e-waste components included polybrominated diphenyl ethers, carbon fluorocarbons, etc. as well as heavy metal components such as tin, copper, arsenic, zinc, etc. 

Conclusions:

The types of e-waste were identified, the hazardous and valuable components as well as the physical and chemical nature of e-waste found at the dumpsite were characterized. The quantity of e-waste generation in metric tons per annum is observed to be high at the dumpsite. The study concludes that e-waste at Agbogbloshie dumpsite was successfully characterized.