End-of-Life Recycling
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End-of-Life Recycling
(Revised July 2003)
The service life of a nickel or nickel-containing product can sometimes be short. Catalysts, for instance,
become passified and have to be "regenerated" or recycled. They can have a life as short as one year
although, depending on the process application, it can be much longer. Likewise, certain consumer
rechargeable batteries will have expected lives of only a few years (although they often remain in the
consumer's home for many years: in a drawer in the kitchen, in a box in the basement).
Overwhelmingly, however, nickel goes into products that are expected to have relatively long - or extremely
long - lives. Usually it is the nickel that allows that durability and longevity to be achieved.
Nickel is used in an enormous variety of applications, each of which can have different end-of-life
characteristics. Given the extraordinary diversity of nickel use, it is not possible to track each
application.
Some "grouping" has to be done and two suggest themselves:
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Concentration of use - distinguishing between concentrated (primarily industrial) use and
diffuse (primarily consumer- or service-related use). Concentrated use facilitates the development of
targeted recycling practices and thus a high degree of collection of nickel-containing end-of-life
products. |
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End-use sector Another grouping - and the approach used on these pages - is by
major use sectors. Nickel end-use splits into four, approximately equal sectors: |
All the numbers quoted below relate to Western Europe nickel use in 1997. The breakdown will vary between
regions but the comments will be generally valid outside Western Europe. Note that nickel recycling will be
higher in developing country economies (see sidebar).
Average life estimates are the average time between original purchase and disposal (i.e., time before something becomes available for recycling). Many products, especially dispersed products, can be held for long periods after useful life but before disposal. This is particularly true for electronic items, tools, toys, etc.
A word on "assumptions":
While it is clear that nickel is highly recycled, there is little reliable underlying data. There are data gaps, a lack of specificity, very diverse recycling loops operating independently of others, and little or no historical data. The assumptions given for the commercial and other sectors represent our best estimates. Wherever possible, the views of individuals in the industry have been sought and the figures sometimes adjusted as a result.
Also, average life expectancies are just that: averages. A hard-wired telephone handset can easily last 20 years whereas a mobile phone has a shorter life. Likewise, there is no reason why a stainless steel spoon could not last 100 years although only 30 years is suggested. In general, we believe the numbers used in this report to be conservative in order to maintain the overall credibility of the larger conclusion: nickel is recycled and recycled at a high level.
There is nonetheless much scope for improvement. Any suggestions - including corrections - will be gratefully received.
Next: Commercial Sector
