Cadmium in the European Community: a Policy-Oriented Analysis

Abstract

The economic production and use of cadmium leads to environmental problems within the European Community (EC). The use of cadmium is still increasing significantly, mainly in batteries. This article presents an analysis of cadmium flows in the economy and the environment of the EC, using the 'Substance Flow Analysis' method, a variant of the materials balance approach. Several cadmium abatement packages are evaluated for their effectiveness in terms of sustainability. Proposed EC policy on cadmium, embodying (1) end-of-the-pipe measures, (2) a phase-out of certain applications, and (3) recycling of batteries and certain other products, does not appear to offer a sustainable solution to the cadmium problem, primarily because of the inelastic nature of cadmium supply: mainly as a by-product of zinc production. On the inflow side, measures should focus not on cadmium but on the main products, zinc and phosphate. Otherwise, recycling will only lead to increased availability of cadmium and thus to larger future losses to the environment. On the outflow side, collection of cadmium-containing waste and products and subsequent safe storage in a concentrated form seems to offer the best solution. The ineffectiveness of cadmium recycling is the result of its complicated economic behaviour: inelastic inflow in the world economy, a wide variety of intentional applications, and occurrence as a contaminant in zinc and phosphate products. All ore by-products show this behaviour and are equally difficult to manage in an environmental policy. In general, a policy on an individual pollutant derives its goals from the environmental characteristics of the substance. In order to be effective, the measures it encompasses should be based on the economic characteristics of the substance: characteristics related to supply and demand.