The management of obsolete computer hardware presents a substantial challenge for nations worldwide, particularly within the European Union. Evaluating the environmental impacts of computers that have reached the end of their operational life is essential to promote sustainable practices and mitigate adverse effects on ecological systems. The objective of this investigation was to assess the environmental impacts of end-of-life management for laptop computers. The analysis concentrated on manual disassembly and mechanical processing techniques, employing Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology in accordance with ISO 14040 and 14044 standards. The functional unit was defined as the treatment and disposal of a laptop computer. The ReCiPe 2016 method was employed for the impact assessment, covering 18 midpoint categories and three endpoint damage categories: human health, ecosystems, and resources. The results indicate that mechanical treatment has a higher environmental impact than manual dismantling across all categories. The study identified key hotspots in the end-of-life process, with components such as Li-ion batteries, printed wiring boards, and aluminum scrap consistently showing higher impacts. These findings suggest that efforts to improve environmental performance should prioritize optimizing mechanical treatment processes and focus on specific high-impact components. This LCA provides valuable insights for the development of more sustainable practices in computer waste management and for policymakers in the electronics industry.

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Screening Life Cycle Assessment Applied to End-of-Life Computers

  • Miguel Ferreira,
  • Idalina Domingos,
  • Lenise Santos,
  • José Ferreira

摘要

The management of obsolete computer hardware presents a substantial challenge for nations worldwide, particularly within the European Union. Evaluating the environmental impacts of computers that have reached the end of their operational life is essential to promote sustainable practices and mitigate adverse effects on ecological systems. The objective of this investigation was to assess the environmental impacts of end-of-life management for laptop computers. The analysis concentrated on manual disassembly and mechanical processing techniques, employing Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology in accordance with ISO 14040 and 14044 standards. The functional unit was defined as the treatment and disposal of a laptop computer. The ReCiPe 2016 method was employed for the impact assessment, covering 18 midpoint categories and three endpoint damage categories: human health, ecosystems, and resources. The results indicate that mechanical treatment has a higher environmental impact than manual dismantling across all categories. The study identified key hotspots in the end-of-life process, with components such as Li-ion batteries, printed wiring boards, and aluminum scrap consistently showing higher impacts. These findings suggest that efforts to improve environmental performance should prioritize optimizing mechanical treatment processes and focus on specific high-impact components. This LCA provides valuable insights for the development of more sustainable practices in computer waste management and for policymakers in the electronics industry.