Review of Cadmium in Plastic Waste in Sweden

Abstract

Cadmium containing stabilizers are used only in certain polyvinylchloride (PVC) products for special weather, light or temperature resistance. The total consumption of cadmium used as a chemical stabilizer in Sweden is expected to be about 1.5 tonnes/year in 1991-1992, while the amount in pigments is approximated to be 6 tonnes/year. It is determined that most of the cadmium that enters into the combustible fraction of municipal solid waste (MSW) comes from plastics and pigments in various products. Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene copolymers (ABS) products are the main source of plastics contained cadmium pigments. These products are usually consumer electronics such as television and telephone sets, computer, radios, etc. In practice, it is very difficult for a country like Sweden to act alone and implement regulations for cadmium due to international trade and heavy import/export of products. There is no doubt that the transition period to adopt other alternatives, as requested by the Swedish Cadmium Ordinance, takes time and a flow of cadmium from plastic wastes into landfills and incinerators is expected during the coming years. This is also due to the long lifetime of some plastic products which contain cadmium. Continuous and consistent monitoring of cadmium in landfills and incineration plants is required in order to be able to evaluate the effect of the Ordinance on cadmium.