At the same time that recycling programs are collecting more old cathode ray tubes (CRT) from old TVs and computer monitors, solutions for recycling CRT glass are disappearing fast in the U.S.
According to E-World Online, which administers e-waste take-back and producer responsibility programs across the U.S., without updated regulations and new recycling models, old CRT glass - which contains lead and requires responsible recycling - will become harder and potentially more costly to recycle.
Currently, CRT glass is separated into leaded and non-leaded glass and processed for recycling into other glass products. CRT used to be recycled into new CRT displays, however E-World says that due to the rise of flat screen technologies the demand for CRT glass has collapsed worldwide.
Many state regulations require CRT glass to be recycled rather than disposed. According to E-World the recycler's dilemma is that currently there are too few domestic end-markets for this material.
The situation is further hampered by downstream due diligence liabilities and lack of efficiency that comes with shipping millions of pounds of glass - much of which contains lead - across the globe.
"Currently, there are only one or two CRT manufacturers outside of China that accept CRT glass for reuse in manufacturing of CRTs. Both are located overseas; and these plants only process a limited amount of CRT glass each year, which makes depending on these facilities for consistent consumption nearly impossible," explains Robert Erie, CEO of E-World Online.
In light of the growing CRT glass recycling problem, the recycling administrator says that it is working to find new, economical CRT recycling solutions.
However, in order to take full advantage of new recycling processes and innovative technologies, E-World claims outdated regulatory frameworks must be revisited and cost effective options allowed.
A growing problem
One of the larger companies that does process CRT glass in the U.S., is the Dlubak Glass Company in Upper Sandusky, Ohio. E-World says that most of the CRT glass collected by its network was being shipped to Dlubak's facilities in both Yuma, Arizona and in Ohio
However, according to the organisation, the recent closure of Dlubak's Yuma facility, combined with the rising cost of processing CRT glass domestically, has made this model financially and logistically difficult.
Closer to the California border, E-World says that it is working with Phoenix-based Closed Loop Refining & Recovery, Inc. (CLRR), a relatively new recycler of CRT glass. CLRR can recycle more than 70 million pounds (31,750 tonnes) of CRT glass per year with an approach that extracts lead from CRT glass as part of the process.
The extracted lead can then be used in batteries and other products, reducing the need to mine new lead out of the ground.
Compliance
Currently the State of California requires that one of two methods be employed to compliantly recycle CRT glass that has been handled as a universal waste:
According to E-World Online, which administers e-waste take-back and producer responsibility programs across the U.S., without updated regulations and new recycling models, old CRT glass - which contains lead and requires responsible recycling - will become harder and potentially more costly to recycle.
Currently, CRT glass is separated into leaded and non-leaded glass and processed for recycling into other glass products. CRT used to be recycled into new CRT displays, however E-World says that due to the rise of flat screen technologies the demand for CRT glass has collapsed worldwide.
Many state regulations require CRT glass to be recycled rather than disposed. According to E-World the recycler's dilemma is that currently there are too few domestic end-markets for this material.
The situation is further hampered by downstream due diligence liabilities and lack of efficiency that comes with shipping millions of pounds of glass - much of which contains lead - across the globe.
"Currently, there are only one or two CRT manufacturers outside of China that accept CRT glass for reuse in manufacturing of CRTs. Both are located overseas; and these plants only process a limited amount of CRT glass each year, which makes depending on these facilities for consistent consumption nearly impossible," explains Robert Erie, CEO of E-World Online.
In light of the growing CRT glass recycling problem, the recycling administrator says that it is working to find new, economical CRT recycling solutions.
However, in order to take full advantage of new recycling processes and innovative technologies, E-World claims outdated regulatory frameworks must be revisited and cost effective options allowed.
A growing problem
One of the larger companies that does process CRT glass in the U.S., is the Dlubak Glass Company in Upper Sandusky, Ohio. E-World says that most of the CRT glass collected by its network was being shipped to Dlubak's facilities in both Yuma, Arizona and in Ohio
However, according to the organisation, the recent closure of Dlubak's Yuma facility, combined with the rising cost of processing CRT glass domestically, has made this model financially and logistically difficult.
Closer to the California border, E-World says that it is working with Phoenix-based Closed Loop Refining & Recovery, Inc. (CLRR), a relatively new recycler of CRT glass. CLRR can recycle more than 70 million pounds (31,750 tonnes) of CRT glass per year with an approach that extracts lead from CRT glass as part of the process.
The extracted lead can then be used in batteries and other products, reducing the need to mine new lead out of the ground.
Compliance
Currently the State of California requires that one of two methods be employed to compliantly recycle CRT glass that has been handled as a universal waste:
1. As a feedstock in the manufacturing of new CRTs
2. As a feedstock to primary or secondary lead smelters.
According to E-World, officials with California's Departments of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) and Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) have recognised that new outlets need to be evaluated and are holding meetings to discuss this issue.
An electronic waste stakeholder meeting is scheduled in Sacramento to address how regulations might need to change to support new innovations coming to market or to allow alternative glass management practices.
"Our industry is at an interesting crossroads when it comes to CRT glass," adds Erie. "In my 12 years in the electronics recycling field, this is the first time that I've seen an e-waste material stream become obsolete and markets dry up so quickly."
"We're very pleased to be working with U.S. entrepreneurs developing domestic solutions and to see state regulators taking the logical next steps to utilizing new innovations in the marketplace," Erie concludes.
An electronic waste stakeholder meeting is scheduled in Sacramento to address how regulations might need to change to support new innovations coming to market or to allow alternative glass management practices.
"Our industry is at an interesting crossroads when it comes to CRT glass," adds Erie. "In my 12 years in the electronics recycling field, this is the first time that I've seen an e-waste material stream become obsolete and markets dry up so quickly."
"We're very pleased to be working with U.S. entrepreneurs developing domestic solutions and to see state regulators taking the logical next steps to utilizing new innovations in the marketplace," Erie concludes.
