How to put old TV sets in new use (focus on solid waste recycling ②)
Core reading
An old TV can be disassembled into 23 parts in Chongqing's electronic waste treatment plant. In the words of an industry insider, "except dust and the like cannot be used, everything else can be turned into treasure."
Last year, Chongqing was included in the first batch of “waste-free cities” in the country. Over the past year or so, Chongqing has taken the recycling of waste electrical and electronic products as an important part of promoting the construction of a "waste-free city" and has conducted many explorations.
When they were young, many people have experienced such a scene. They lie on a summer mat in the afternoon, and a tricycle passes by outside, and a long voice comes: "Collect old refrigerators, color TVs, washing machines..." But now, in many places in Chongqing, people Or contact the property, or directly call the staff of the scrap purchase point to come to your door, you can find a good place for the used electrical appliances.
As one of the first pilot "waste-free cities", Chongqing has established a recycling and disposal system for waste electrical and electronic products. Scrap TVs, refrigerators, and computers are "eaten" into the dismantling line, and some of the copper, iron, and circuit boards "spit out" are turned into products to enter the sales link, and some are further processed. Last year, Chongqing recycled 1.84 million waste electrical and electronic products. In the next step, Chongqing will also extend the processing industry chain of waste electrical and electronic products to further increase the recycling rate of resources.
Collection: find a good place for used electrical appliances
"Beep..." A hurried horn sounded, and Hu Rengui, the owner of the waste collection point, raised his eyelids and glanced at him.
"Lao Hu, take the goods! Four TV sets." The man in the truck shouted.
"Good!" Hu Rengui took the goods and put them on the scale. "160 kg, 260 yuan at the old price."
Weighed too much and paid, these TV sets were stacked in an open-air storage yard of several hundred square meters. Before long, they will be transported to Chongqing Zhongtian Electronic Waste Treatment Co., Ltd., 100 kilometers away, for dismantling.
"I just pulled 400 away yesterday, and now there are not many left here." Following the direction of Hu Rengui's fingers, the reporter saw that discarded TV sets and washing machines were stacked neatly in the yard.
According to Hu Rengui, his waste collection point recycles nearly 30,000 waste electrical appliances each year, mainly from residents and self-employed individuals in Banan, Dadukou, Nan'an and other places. The recycled electrical appliances are sent to processing companies in batches every week. In this way, the waste collection point operated by Hu Rengui is like a "setter", becoming a key link between the front-end residents and the end-dismantling company.
In Banan District, Chongqing City, there are about 10 such recycling points.
"It was not like this before." Hu Rengui said that before dismantling the company, many used electrical appliances were dismantled at the recycling station. Some small workshops lack technology and are often dismantled violently. It is inevitable that some harmful substances will flow out and pollute the environment. From an economic point of view, the previous dismantling efficiency was relatively low. Some components were discarded without being fully dismantled, which also caused a waste of resources to a certain extent.
"It's alright now, let professional people do the professional things, I just need to be a middleman." Hu Rengui said.
Dismantling: A TV can be disassembled into 23 parts
"Eat" into waste electrical appliances and "spit" out all kinds of resources-every day, five to six thousand used electrical appliances are pulled to Chongqing Zhongtian Electronic Waste Treatment Co., Ltd.
When warehousing, each appliance will be affixed with a bar code, scanning the bar code, you can monitor the whole process from warehousing to shipment.
In the backstage of Zhongtian Company, there are real-time videos of dozens of production links on a large screen. A dozen staff members sit in front of the computer and supervise the production process.
Why is the regulation so strict? Because some wastes contain harmful substances, such as mercury and phosphors in TV sets, and Freon in refrigerator compressors, if they are discarded or violently dismantled, harmful substances will leak.
"Bombs need bomb disposal experts, and the same is true for waste electrical appliances. For example, the compressor in the refrigerator, we have special equipment, after puncturing, absorb the freon inside, and then install it for disposal." said Yi Jianjun, deputy general manager of Zhongtian. The recycling of waste electrical appliances must first ensure environmental protection.
The composition of waste electrical appliances is complex, containing more than 700 kinds of substances, including copper, aluminum and other materials with high resource utilization value, but also lead, mercury and other pollutants. Its recycling is an important issue. In the Zhongtian company, the waste electrical appliances are formally dismantled, which is not only environmentally friendly, but also more fully recycled resources. "Except for dust and other things that can't be used, everything else can be turned into treasure." Yi Jianjun proudly said. For example, TV sets can be disassembled into five categories: glass, metal, and plastic, glass, phosphor, etc. 23 Kind of parts.
After the disassembly is completed, the various parts are stored separately, and recyclable materials such as plastic, copper, iron, etc. will be sold to the company for reuse. This part accounts for about 95%. Dust and other materials are handled by themselves, and the company collects hazardous waste. The money should be handled by specialized companies. "If the three are offset, you can make a fortune." Yi Jianjun pointed to the neatly stacked dismantling materials and said that last year, the company dismantled about 140 tons of waste electrical and electronic products every day, and recycled 1.52 million waste electrical appliances throughout the year. Reach 40,000 tons, with an output value of 260 million yuan.
Electronic waste disposal companies such as Zhongtian Company need to obtain a license from the local environmental protection department before they can operate. After standardization, Chongqing currently has only three companies with dismantling qualifications, with an annual processing capacity of 4 million units. It is understood that there are not many qualified enterprises nationwide.
No waste: Promote green development methods and lifestyles
Not only waste electrical appliances, waste paper boxes, construction waste, etc. are also being more fully recycled in Chongqing.
Last year, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment issued the "Announcement on Issuing the List of the Pilot List of "Waste-free Cities"," and Chongqing (the main urban area) was included in the national "11+5" pilot cities.
What is a "waste-free city"? “This is actually an image statement. It does not mean that there is no waste at all, but an advanced urban management concept.” The relevant person in charge of the Chongqing Municipal Bureau of Ecological Environment said that “a waste-free city” is actually through promoting green development. Ways and lifestyles, to achieve an urban development model with the smallest possible amount of solid waste, full utilization of resources, safe disposal, and the lowest possible environmental impact.
In November 2019, the "Chongqing City (Main Urban Area) "Waste-Free City" Pilot Implementation Plan" was released. Among them, the recycling of waste electrical and electronic products is regarded as an important part of the "Waste-Free City" construction, and great progress has been made.
In addition, Chongqing has also explored some useful experiences. For example, domestic waste in the central city area has basically achieved "zero landfill"; food waste management measures have been introduced to achieve full coverage of the collection and transportation of food waste in the main city area, and classified collection and transportation of food waste The resource utilization rate reaches 100%.
Of course, the current practice also has some shortcomings. "For example, the level of smart solid waste management is not high, construction waste, sewage sludge, renewable resources, agricultural waste, etc. lack intelligent and precise supervision methods, and information sharing and communication are not smooth enough. In addition, technical support needs to be further strengthened. : Bulk solid wastes such as electrolytic manganese slag and phosphogypsum lack stable and efficient comprehensive utilization technologies, and most of them can only be stored for a long time and are difficult to absorb. The lack of uniform certification standards for construction waste recycling products limits the promotion and application of products." China Huang Qifei, a researcher at the Institute of Environmental Sciences, told reporters.
"In addition, the public's awareness of the'waste-free city' is not high enough, and the awareness of solid waste reduction, classification and resource utilization needs to be strengthened." Huang Qifei said.
The relevant person in charge of the Chongqing Municipal Bureau of Ecology and Environment said that in the next step, Chongqing will further improve the recycling system to prevent waste electrical appliances from flowing into informal channels from the source; encourage and support waste electrical appliances dismantling and processing enterprises to innovate technology, extend the industrial chain, and increase resource recycling utilization. "To ensure the successful completion of the pilot tasks, we must also establish a sound system, improve industry standardization, and systematically solve the problems and difficulties in the comprehensive management of solid waste."
Our reporter Liu Xinwu