Plastic wastes potentially containing brominated flame retardants: volumes, spatial distribution and recycling in Belarus

Plastic waste of electronic and electrical equipment (EEE), being a valuable secondary resource, requires a special approach to management due to the possibility of containing brominated flame retardants, including polybromodiphenyl ethers (PBDE). PBDEs are persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and have been listed under the Stockholm Convention on POPs. In accordance with international obligations it is necessary to identify contaminated waste and prevent its recycling. In the article the results of assessing the volume of plastic waste of EEE in Belarus formation by urban and rural population, taking into account the types of equipment, is presented. The total volume of EEE waste in 2018 is estimated at 9.3 thousand tons, of which approximately 2.3 thousand tons may contain PBDEs. It is shown that about 25 % of their total volume is formed in Minsk, 25 % – in large cities. Within the most of the territory of Belarus (in 67 % of administrative districts), the volume of plastic waste of EEE is relatively small and varies from 10 to 50 tons; their contribution is 18.3 %. It was found that only 23 % of the generated plastic waste of EEE with a range in administrative areas from 10% (in Grodno) to 31% (in Gomel) is recycled. Technical guidelines are needed to manage of plastic waste of EEE to prevent the circulation of hazardous substances.

persistent organic pollutants, polybromodiphenyl ethers, EEE waste, recycling

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