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Title Persistent Hazardous Waste and the Quest Toward a Circular Economy The Example of Arsenic in Chromated Copper Arsenate-Treated Wood
ID_Doc 3404
Authors Augustsson, A; Sörme, L; Karlsson, A; Amneklev, J
Title Persistent Hazardous Waste and the Quest Toward a Circular Economy The Example of Arsenic in Chromated Copper Arsenate-Treated Wood
Year 2017
Published Journal Of Industrial Ecology, 21, 3
DOI 10.1111/jiec.12516
Abstract The importance of a circular economy is today widely accepted and advocated, but among the challenges in achieving this, we find difficulties in the implementation of legislation and policies designed to control various waste streams from society. The example used in this article is wood that has been treated with chromated copper arsenate (CCA), which, in Sweden, has been covered by the rules for hazardous waste since 2002. One year later, in 2003, a survey showed that only 42% to 50% of the expected amount of CCA waste could be traced to the public waste management system. An updated material flow analysis for 2010 revealed that the figure had increased to 73%, whereas the fraction of correctly treated CCA wood waste had increased from 11% to 35%. However, almost one third of the expected volume was still not tracable, and half of the amount that was correctly submitted was incinerated together with nontoxic waste fractions. This results in, for example, arsenic contamination of slag and fly ashes that prevents the further use of these residue products. So, despite legislative instruments, there is still an urgent need for an improved collection of hazardous wood waste, as well as better routines for identifying hazardous flows and separating them from nonhazardous ones. For a circular economy to be achievable, a key priority should be to reduce the gap between intended directions and legislation, on one hand, and activities in practice on the other.
Author Keywords arsenic; circular economy; industrial ecology; MFA; treated wood; waste
Index Keywords Index Keywords
Document Type Other
Open Access Open Access
Source Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED)
EID WOS:000405315600021
WoS Category Green & Sustainable Science & Technology; Engineering, Environmental; Environmental Sciences
Research Area Science & Technology - Other Topics; Engineering; Environmental Sciences & Ecology
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