Instruments and measures for waste prevention | |||
Name of initiative | Objective and intended effect/expected impact | Implementation | Feasibility and evidence |
Reduced use of helium for entertainment purposes | Helium is produced as a by-product of natural gas, and its supply is therefore expected to decline as fossil fuels are phased out globally. The gas has important industrial and technical applications, as well as being widely used for entertainment purposes. Banning or restricting its use for entertainment purposes would increase security of supply for more important uses. 20 % of todays helium use can be avoided through a ban on party balloons. Changes in MRI-practice can limit the helium use further. | Ban helium use in party baloons, increase collection of helium from MRI-machines and increase use of helium free MRI-machines will reduce depletion of limited helium reserves and future supply risk. A national ban on helium should be set by governmental authorities. Helium recycling from MRI-machines should be required where possible. A economic deposit on helium use for other purposes can finance recycling schemes to ensure helium recycling from other applications. | Although local iniatives have been tried out or proposed, no national action has so far been taken by Nordic countries. |
Reduced use of aluminum for packaging purposes | Significant amounts of aluminium are used as single-use packaging where alternative materials are often available. A ban or restriction on the use of aluminium for non-essential packaging purposes would reduce the overall consumption of aluminium that ends up in waste streams with limited recycling potential. As magnesium is used as an alloying additive in many aluminium alloys for packaging purposes, the same measure would also minimise magnesium consumption for the same purpose. Substitution of aluminum packaging where acceptable material alternatives exist can reduce Nordic aluminum consumption by almost 20 000 tonn anually. | Stimulate PSS-businesses reusing aluminium packaging, plates and trays. Ban the use of aluminum metallization of polymers for packaging of consumer products. Ban the use of aluminum foil for chocolate and confecionary products. Ban use of blister packaging of pills and capsules, with exceptions for medically required use. Support development of new aluminum can systems less dependent on dilution. Information campaigns to both industry and the public on most optimal use of different packaging materials. Unless introduced as a regional ban by EU, each ban should be set nationally by relevant governmental authorities. | No national initatives has so far been identifed. |
Eliminate the use of coke in steel production | Metallurgical coke is used as a reducing agent in the production of iron and steel. An alternative production method where hydrogen and electricity replace coke in the process is available through Direct Reduction (DRI). DRI-plants are being planned in Sweden through the Hybrit and H2Gsteel projects. | Establishment of DRI furnaces that can replace and blast furnaces should receive both economic and legislative governmental support. While hydrogenbased DRI is the optimal non-emission infrastructure, even natural gas based DRI will dramatically reduce emissions – and will eliminate the need for coke. Implementation of strict CBAM tariffs around Europe, to avoid unfair competition should also be be done. | DRI-plants are operational world wide, and planned in Sweden. |
Adopt alternative technology for the primary production of aluminum that eliminates the need for fluorine and anode graphite | A number of alternative processes for the production of primary aluminium that could result in increased recycling or reduced need for CRMs as feedstocks are under development. Aluminium production using inert anodes would limit the need for graphite in the process, aluminium production with anorthosite would yield pure silica as a by-product, and aluminium production based on a chlorine-based salt melt would eliminate the need for fluorine for the same purpose while also enabling the extraction of trace amounts with CRMs other than aluminium. By supporting the development of these technologies, aluminium production could become far more CRM resource efficient. | Governmental support for pilots and demonstration plants for alternative production of primary aluminium. Governmental economic support schemes should be considered either thorugh CAPEX payments or loans/ grants. | Technolgies have been tested in pilot plants |
Reduced use of copper for chemicals | Thousands of tons of copper metal are removed from secondary value chains in the Nordic countries to become preservatives, biocides and pigments. This copper cannot be recycled, although some of the copper is found in incineration ashes. There are good substitutes for many of these applications. A ban or restrictions on the use of copper-based preservatives, biocides and pigments would not only minimise the Nordic consumption of copper by as much as 16 000 tons anually, but can also contribute to an increased copper recycling rates. | The following restriction should be considered: Ban against the use of copper for timber preservative, with some possibility of legal exemptions. Ban against the use of copper for fish farming infrastructure. Ban use of copper fungicides for non-essential farming, such as flowers and Christmas decorations. Ban the use of copper and all other CRMs in printing inks, textile dyes and pigments for polymers and paints. Tariff or tax on use of all legal copper chemicals to increase price and incentivise reduced consumption should also be considered. Information campaign that raises public awareness about the negative CRM-implications of copper chemicals. | No national initatives has so far been identifed. |
Reduced use of REE for pigment, ceramic products and glass production | Thusands of tons of REE are being used in glass and ceramics worldwide as pigment where these CRMs are lost for future recovery. A ban or tax on the use of strategic REEs like neodymium and praesodymium in pigments, glass and ceramics could minimize the proportion of these REEs used for this purpose, and thus reduce supply risks for more essential high-tech applications. | A Nordic ban on strategic REE in glass and ceramics will have limited effect. In stead such restrictions on a European level should be proposed. Restrictions on neodymium and praesodymium are especially important. | No national or regional initatives has so far been identifed. |
Reduced use of CRMs for fireworks | Restrictions on fireworks could reduce the use of barium, magnesium and strontium, and thus improve the security of supply of the same raw materials for high-tech applications. | A national ban on fireworks should be introduced. Alternative an additional tax on fireworks that limit consumption or information campaign that raises public awareness about negative CRM-implications and littering problems caused by fireworks. | Countries such as Ireland and Chile , along with the U.S. state of Massachusetts , have enacted a general ban on all private use of fireworks. |
Reduced use of critical raw materials in small electronics in consumer products | Significant amounts of small electronics are included in consumer products. A common feature of much of this small electronics is that it is integrated into textiles, toys, sporting goods and leisure equipment such as sneakers, which makes sorting difficult and is therefore less likely to be recycled than other EE waste. A ban on or excise duty on the use of critical raw materials for non-essential consumer products could minimise the proportion of CRM used for this purpose, and thus improve the security of CRM supply for high-tech applications. | Ban products with unnecessary electronic components including textiles with light, sensor, and microchips. Alternative an additional tax on such products that limit consumption or information campaign that raises public awareness about negative CRM-implications these products. | No national or regional initatives has so far been identifed. |
Increase the number of CRMs and overall extraction efficiency from ore mined in the Nordic region. | Critical raw materials such as copper, cobalt and nickel are included as by-products that are often not extracted from ore processed in the Nordic region. More advanced beneficiation techniques have the potential to extract more of these CRMs from beneficiation processes, thereby minimizing the waste materials that subsequently need to be landfilled. | Restructuring taxation of Nordic mining industry to insentivice increased extraction of CRM-byproducts from processed ore. | No national or regional initatives has so far been identifed. |
Instruments and measures for reuse | |||
Name of initative | Objective and intended effect/expected impact | Implementation | Feasibility and evidence |
Assess the possibility of reusing optical cables with CRM content | Reusing germanium-containing optical cables could reduce the need for germanium for this purpose. Optical cables can also contain other CRMs, such as REE. | A system for collection and preparation of end-of-life optical cables for re-use should be considered. | No national or regional initatives has so far been identifed. |
Reusing magnets in electric motors, pumps and "dynamos" | Reusing electric motors in pumps and other electrical components, or the magnets they contain, could reduce the need for new magnetic metals of the same type. However, material fatigue will limit the reuse possibilities for certain components. Proper testing of the components is therefore important before re-use. The scheme should perhaps be limited to manufacturers only recalling their own products. | Encourage standardization of magnet chemical composition, design form and size that supports reuse of magnets in new generations of products. Support magnet reuse schemes in industry | Some legislation regarding these issues are expected to follow from CRMA |
Reusing CRM components in discarded EE products | There is already an established market for still usable components stripped from end of life electronic products. This market can be further developed. CRM components such as magnets (REE), vibrating elements (W), capacitors (Ta) may be used in new products or as spare parts during repairs. | Support reuse of electronic components through tax incentives and collection schemes | No national or regional initatives has so far been identifed. |
Increasing the number of insurance settlement cases where used products or assisted repair services are provided as compensation in stead of new products. | By providing used products or assisted repair services as compensation in insurance settlements CRMs used in the production of new products that are being replaced can be saved for other uses. Although this practice already existis in the insurance industry it is so far an exception rather than a norm, and the potential for expansion of this practrice should be considered. | Increased replacement of lost products covered by insurance policy with used alternatives or assisted repair services can be expanded as either as a vulountary or compulsory scheme. | The cost of providing a reused product with acceptable properties or adequate repair services will probably often be more costly than pruchasing a new product. A compulsory scheme is also expected to be less popular among policy holders. |