The contemporary European silver cycle

T. Lanzano, M. Bertram, M. De Palo, C. Wagner, K. Zyla and T.E. Graedel

Resources, Conservation & Recycling, 2006, vol. 46, issue 1, 27-43

Abstract: This paper examines the 1-year anthropogenic stocks and flows of silver as it progresses from extraction to final disposal on the European continent. The primary flows of silver include production, fabrication and manufacturing, use, and waste management. A substance flow analysis (SFA) was used to trace the flows and inventory data, and mass balance equations were used to determine the quantity of flows. The results reveal that Europe has a low level of silver mine production (1580Mg Ag/year) and instead relies on silver imports and the recycling of scrap in production and fabrication. In the year 1997, Europe imported 1160Mg Ag of ore concentrate and 2010Mg Ag of refined silver, and recycled 2750Mg Ag of new and old scrap. There is a net addition of 3320Mg Ag/year into silver reservoirs at the use stage. This is the result of a greater amount of silver entering the system from manufacturing than is leaving the system into waste management. The waste flow with the highest content of silver is municipal solid waste, which contains 1180Mg Ag/year. In total, 62% of all discarded silver is recycled and 38% is sent to landfills. The results of this study and other element and material flow analyses can help guide resource managers, environmental policy makers, and environmental scientists in their efforts to increase material recovery and recycling, address resource sustainability, and ameliorate environmental problems.

Keywords: Substance flow analysis; Silver; Europe; Stocks and flows; Resource management (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2006
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:recore:v:46:y:2006:i:1:p:27-43

DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2005.06.003

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