Evaluating the impact of analogue e-waste

18 Mar 2011

As final analogue switch-off looms ever closer, the broadcast industry is considering how best to dispose of its analogue television transmission equipment. Here, a university research project into analogue e-waste is helping Broadcast Australia move towards a greener future.

With Australia's digital switch-over well underway, Broadcast Australia is evaluating how best to dispose of its legacy analogue transmitters in the most environmentally responsible manner. Part of this challenge is to determine the exact make-up of the constituent components of this equipment, in order to optimise its recyclability.

To assist the company in this goal, five final-year students from Macquarie University in Sydney recently finalised a project that incorporated the analysis of the chemical composition of an analogue transmitter power amplifier. The project group comprised Briony Papps, Katherine Dodd, Darcy Shaw, Rhian Owen, and Kirsty Williams. The semester-long environmental assignment was conducted with the support and encouragement of Broadcast Australia.

Disassembly and detection

According to Briony, the aim of the project was to determine the potential impact to the environment arising from the disposal of analogue transmitters and televisions. "We wanted to investigate how redundant analogue equipment—both domestic and industrial—can be best handled to minimise its environmental impact," she said.

"E-waste is an issue of escalating importance," Katherine agrees. "The move to digital television broadcasting will cause a massive upsurge in the number of analogue TVs being discarded, and will also result in an increase in the industrial e-waste that is generated from the broadcasting industry."

As part of the project, an analogue transmitter power amplifier—donated by the company—was painstakingly disassembled to allow the team to analyse the composition of its components. "We used XRF spectrometry to ascertain exactly what chemicals and hazardous materials were present," said Briony.

The results showed a spectrum of 46 detectable compounds. "Almost fifty per cent of the power amplifier comprised its aluminium casing, which is very easy to remove and recycle," said Katherine. "We also found significant quantities of iron, tin and copper—much of which can be recovered effectively."

Report recommendations

A number of hazardous substances were also detected, including bromine, lead, nickel, chromium, cadmium, and arsenic. The team's research further indicates the likely presence of beryllium in the power amplifier's springs, relays and connections. As this could not be verified through XRF spectrometry, the project report recommends that further analysis be undertaken to confirm the presence of beryllium.

As Broadcast Australia's Environmental Compliance Coordinator, Suzanne Mildren, explains, this project has provided an invaluable first step for the company to decide how best to dispose of the redundant analogue transmitters. "Naturally, we want to recycle as much as we can," she said. "The problem is that most recyclers will only accept equipment of known chemical make-up. This project allows us to develop a disposal strategy based on hard facts as we work towards a greener future."

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