Search Results (27)

Plastics make up a significant proportion of the stream of the European Waste of Electric and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), yet the use of recycled plastic materials is very low in new manufactured products. A description of the WEEE waste stream in Europe is given, with a focus on the plastic materials commonly found in WEEE that include four principal polymers: polypropylene (PP), polycarbonate (PC), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) and polystyrene (PS). Furthermore, the legislative aspects related to WEEE and plastics recycling in Europe are complex, and numerous norms have been dictated by the European Commission. These norms are crucial to the sector of polymer recycling and production in Europe. Moreover, an overview of the entire treatment chain is presented. More specifically, each step of a typical recycling chain is introduced, with a focus on the sorting of plastics and the separation of polymers. Lastly, the influence of contaminants in the plastic fraction is discussed, both in terms of polymer particles and unwanted additives. By showing the impact of the purity rate on the mechanical properties of recycled plastics, the consequences of inadequate end-of-life treatment for WEEE-plastics is highlighted, hence linking the quality of recycled plastics to the separation step and the re-compounding of recycled granulates. Full article

The proliferation of electronic goods manufacturing and the subsequent rise in electronic waste (e-waste) generation necessitate the establishment of efficient Waste of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) reverse logistics systems, fostering collaborative efforts among manufacturers, retailers, and government agencies. Given its importance, this theme has received considerable attention in recent literature. This study focused on investigating the relationships between socio-spatial characteristics and the distribution of WEEE collection points in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. To this end, data mining (DM) techniques were applied to generate rules representing knowledge that explains the relationship among the considered variables. The results achieved (accuracy 81.25% and Kappa statistic 74.71%), indicating consistent patterns, demonstrate the potential of the proposed approach to aid WEEE reverse chain management. From a practical point of view, the knowledge produced is an important support for decision-making on the installation of new collection points, considering the socio-spatial characteristics of the target locations. In addition, this research contributes to the responsible management of solid waste recommended by the Brazilian National Solid Waste Policy (NSWP), as well as to the advancement of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), particularly SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), by fostering sustainable practices in waste management and resource utilization within urban contexts. Full article

The swift global proliferation of solar photovoltaic (PV) technology has significantly contributed to the acceleration of the transition to renewable energy. Projections indicate a significant rise in installed capacity by 2050, suggesting that the extensive implementation of solar panels is transforming energy systems while simultaneously highlighting important issues regarding end-of-life waste management and long-term sustainability. The environmental advantages of photovoltaic (PV) systems are overshadowed by the prevalent reliance on landfilling and inadequate recycling practices, revealing a substantial deficiency in sustainable waste management, especially in areas with underdeveloped policy frameworks. This research study examines the solar panel supply chain, highlighting critical stages, sources of waste generation, existing management practices, and potential areas for enhancement. Waste is classified into four categories, solid, hazardous, electronic (WEEE), and environmental, each necessitating specific management strategies. Regions such as Europe exhibit comprehensive legal frameworks and advanced recycling technologies, whereas others, including Latin America and certain areas of Asia, continue to encounter deficits in policy and infrastructure. The research highlights the implementation of the 6R principles—Recycle, Recover, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, and Refine—within a circular economy framework to improve sustainability, optimize resource utilization, and reduce environmental impact. The findings highlight the necessity for coordinated policies, technological innovation, and international collaboration to ensure a sustainable future for solar energy. This study offers important insights for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and researchers focused on enhancing circularity and sustainability within the photovoltaic sector. Full article

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) has grown three times faster than the world’s population and 13% more than global GDP with increasing urbanization, including in BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), which were home to around 42% of the world population in 2024. The research question in this study is as follows: how are BRICS countries integrating WEEE actors in moving towards sustainable cities? The integration of actors, based on the principle of sustainable cities, occurs through different forms of interaction: either through the institutional apparatus in which they operate or through the economic, social or environmental issues in which they are involved. The study proposes a framework for public policies of the WEEE value chain under the precepts of sustainable cities in the BRICS countries. The techniques applied were based on bibliographical and documentary research and semi-structured interviews. The Delphi method was applied for the interviews. The framework comprises 39 strategic variables in the urban environmental, economic and social categories. Applying this framework enables the identification of barriers and opportunities in the context of cities in the BRICS countries. Based on the proposed framework, it is possible to evaluate and propose public policies for BRICS countries, reinforcing opportunities and seeking to deal with existing barriers. Full article

Assessing a given product’s design and its recyclability using mass flow analysis based on the material separation and recovery rates of individual recycling processes under realistic conditions can support design decisions promoting better recyclability. EN 45555 defines the calculation of the technical recyclability of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE). However, the lack of specific recycling rates for material or processes often leads to either too small or too high recyclability values. Herein, an extensive database of such recycling rates is presented. Moreover, the quality of recycling is considered. The typical classification into “recycled” and “lost” is expanded into four categories, namely “circular”, “recycled”, “alternate material recovery” and “lost”. The recycling rate database includes yields for all four categories and covers 30 materials for 14 recycling processes relevant in waste EEE (WEEE) treatment. These data enable a detailed calculation of the recyclability of various EEE for multiple recycling scenarios covering the entire WEEE recycling chain. Fraunhofer IZM performed an internal critical review of the data. The recycling rates database can act as a solid foundation for comparing the recyclability of various electronics in different scenarios and recyclability indices. For example, the recyclability of typical smartphones is investigated comparing different dismantling and recycling scenarios highlighting the potential of both database and methodology. Full article

Recycling waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) has garnered considerable societal attention. To incentivize WEEE recycling within a closed-loop supply chain (CLSC), a deposit-refund system (DRS) has been implemented. This study delves into the implications of a market-driven DRS on WEEE recycling under different recycling models. A Stackelberg game analysis is employed, where an electronics manufacturer (leader) has sufficient channel power over an electronics retailer and a third-party recycler (followers). The results indicate that the market-driven DRS significantly incentivizes consumer recycling efforts, ultimately elevating the economic efficiency of the supply chain. When the electronics manufacturer assumes responsibility for WEEE recycling, it streamlines the recycling process, thereby enhancing operational efficiency and profitability. Conversely, when the electronics retailer handles WEEE recycling, it reduces retail prices and simplifies the recycling process, positively influencing consumer purchasing behavior. However, when a third-party recycler undertakes WEEE recycling, the recycling volume tends to be minimal, resulting in the lowest level of supply chain profits. This paper provides theoretical and practical implications for improving the recycling effectiveness and operational efficiency of the CLSC. Full article

The objective of this study was to apply simulation and genetic algorithms for the economic and environmental optimization of the reverse network (manufacturers, waste managers, and recyclers in Sao Paulo, Brazil) of waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) to promote the circular economy. For the economic evaluation, the reduction in fuel, drivers, insurance, depreciation, maintenance, and charges was considered. For the environmental evaluation, the impact of abiotic, biotic, water, land, air, and greenhouse gases was measured. It was concluded that the optimized structure of the WEEE reverse chains for Sao Paulo, Brazil provided a reduction in the number of collections, thus making the most of cubage. It also generated economic and environmental gains, contributing to the strategic actions of the circular economy. Therefore, the proposed approach is replicable in organizational practice, which is mainly required to meet the 2030 agenda of reducing the carbon footprint generated by transport in large cities. Thus, this study can guide companies in structuring the reverse WEEE chains in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and other states and countries for economic and environmental optimization, which is an aspect of great relevance considering the exponential generation of WEEE. Full article

The usance of electric and electronic products has become commonplace across the globe. The growing number of customers and the demand for these products are resulting in the manufacturing of new electrical and electronic products into the market, which is ultimately generating a plethora of e-waste. The notion of a circular economy (CE) is attracting more researchers to work in the growing field of e-waste management. Considering e-waste as a prominent menace, the objective of this study was to undertake a comprehensive review of the literature by analyzing the research articles published in the MDPI Sustainability journal pertaining to the topic of e-waste in the context of operations and supply chain management (OSCM). This study was addressed via three research questions. A total of 87 selected papers from 2014 to 2023 were analyzed, reviewed, and categorized after data were collected from Web of Science (WOS) and Scopus academic databases with articles only published in the MDPI Sustainability journal. This entails identifying prominent research themes, publication trends, research evolution, research clusters, and industries related to e-waste through descriptive analysis. The field of study and methods employed were analyzed by means of content analysis by delving into the main body of the published articles. Further, four major research themes and clusters were identified: (1) closed-loop supply chains; (2) e-waste; (3) sustainable development; and (4) waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). Consequently, this review can be a foundation for subsequent scholarly pursuits toward e-waste management and fresh lines of inquiry for the journal. Finally, in the conclusion section, some future research guidelines are also provided. Full article

This study evaluates the current collection and recycling of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) in Italy by means of the analysis of national and regional data from EUROSTAT and the Italian WEEE Coordination Centre database, as well as through qualitative interviews with key stakeholders of the WEEE management system of the Campania region (Southern Italy). Urban systems, among which the metropolitan city of Naples in the Campania region, are the main users of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) and, as a consequence, the main generators of WEEE, which must be managed and recovered properly in order to prevent the loss of valuable resources and the associated environmental impacts. In addition to analysing the current state of WEEE collection and recycling in Italy and its regions and urban systems, the study aims to improve our understanding of the WEEE reverse supply chain and the main barriers and drivers to collection and recycling. The results reveal that the main barriers to the collection/delivery/recycling of WEEE resulted in the low awareness of the citizens about the importance of WEEE recovery, the lack of trust towards administrators, the lack of certified first treatment plants, the aversion of the citizens to the opening of new plants due to past inefficient solutions in solid waste management, the exploitation of high value materials only (so-called “cannibalization”, the illegal trade of WEEE, the influence of the market on the valorization of secondary materials), and, finally, the dominance of economic efficiency over the proximity advantage for the disposal of solid waste. On the other hand, the main drivers for collection emerged to be the adoption of education programmes in schools and constant communication campaigns directed to citizens in order to improve WEEE collection and recycling behaviour; the adoption of economic and non-economic incentives; the availability of municipal collection points (ecological islands) and other collection centres characterised by easy access by citizens for the delivery of their WEEE. Full article

With the understanding that the mining industry is an important and necessary part of the production chain, we argue that the future of mining must be sustainable and responsible when responding to the increasing material demands of the current and next generations. In this paper, we illustrate how concepts, such as inclusiveness and the circular economy, can come together in new forms of mining—what we call inclusive urban mining—that could be beneficial for not only the mining industry, but for the environmental and social justice efforts as well. Based on case studies in the construction and demolition waste and WEEE (or e-waste) sectors in Colombia and Argentina, we demonstrate that inclusive urban mining could present an opportunity to benefit society across multiple echelons, including empowering vulnerable communities and decreasing environmental degradation associated with extractive mining and improper waste management. Then, recognizing that most engineering curricula in this field do not include urban mining, especially from a community-based perspective, we show examples of the integration of this form of mining in engineering education in first-, third- and fourth-year design courses. We conclude by providing recommendations on how to make inclusive urban mining visible and relevant to engineering education. Full article

Nowadays, to achieve carbon neutrality, e-commerce platforms participate in the sales and recycling of electrical and electronic products in consideration of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) regulations and environmental effects. This study builds a Stackelberg game model for an e-commerce closed-loop supply chain (ECLSC) under different sales cooperation modes between a manufacturer of electrical and electronic products and an e-commerce platform. Reverse induction is used to obtain the optimal decision-making and profit of the ECLSC under three sales cooperation modes, considering the influence of environmental effects on optimal decision and objective functions. The results show the following: the sales cooperation mode and environmental cost do not affect the WEEE recovery prices of manufacturers and e-commerce platforms, nor do they affect government subsidy standards for dismantling WEEEs; they are, however, positively correlated with environmental benefits. Furthermore, the wholesale and retail prices of electrical and electronic products under different sales cooperation modes are related to sales cooperation modes and environmental costs. Moreover, the processing fees imposed on the manufacturers are related to the environmental costs of the electrical and electronic products; the thresholds of environmental costs of products for government to levy processing fees are different under different sales cooperation modes. Finally, the environmental cost of products required by the government’s levying of processing fees are the lowest under a hybrid model. Generally speaking, under WEEE regulations, governments should levy more processing fees for electrical and electronic products with higher environmental costs. Meanwhile, increased environmental benefits will always increase the profits of supply chain members, but increased environmental costs do not always reduce the profits of supply chain members, and multichannel product sales do not always generate profits for manufacturers. Full article

Government requirements for the management of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) by electronics manufacturers and importers has raised some difficulties in structuring the reverse chain of WEEE in Brazil, notably due to the territorial extension of the country. The need to implement circular economy practices (CE) in the reverse chain of WEEE has been acknowledged as a key requirement for sustaining the international competitiveness of Brazilian companies. In this context, this study sets up to evaluate the flows of the reverse chain of WEEE, aiming to promote CE as well as its actions for the recycling, reuse, remanufacturing, and reduction of WEEE in Brazil. The study identifies and characterizes key manufacturing decisions for developing waste management capabilities, including the need for waste management responsibilities for installing and operating the collection points and transporting waste to recyclers. Likewise, the study highlights the relevance of the adoption of strategies for selling recycled materials to the secondary market, along with reusing and reducing the use of virgin materials. Initially, the managerial strategy is based on recycling and remanufacturing actions due to short-term monetary revaluation, in addition to the immediate resolution of the complex problem. It should be noted that the decision to outsource WEEE management does not exempt the manufacturer from reusing and reducing material consumption, an important contribution that must be taken into account in organizational practice, beyond the immediate resolution of the complex problem. Full article

Information and communication technology (ICT)-based products have a significant effect on increasing levels of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) or electronic waste (e-waste) due to their shorter lifespan as a result of rapid technological changes. Mobile phones are the most popular ICT products, and their market share is increasing gradually. Therefore, effective management of waste mobile phones (WMP) is sought as their recovery brings enormous economic and regulatory benefits. Forecasting the quantities of WMP and their recoverable material content generates valuable data for the related stakeholders in the circular economy (CE) in the design and management of their supply chain networks. This paper presents an approach to determining the WMP quantity for Turkey considering the system from sales to end-of-life (EOL) stages and the years between 2001 and 2035. The proposed model includes two main parts: estimation and forecasting. Firstly, the generated WMP quantity is estimated based on dynamic lifespan and sales using the Distribution Delay (DD) Method considering the years from 2001 to 2020. To select the most suitable model for future projection, seven different time series methods (e.g., Simple Exponential Smoothing, Holt’s, Logistics, Gompertz, Logarithmic, Bass, and ARIMA models) are considered to estimate the generated WMP. For the given data, the Holt’s Method is determined to be the best method to forecast the WMP quantities for the years from 2021 to 2035. In addition, waste materials amount and revenue potentials are estimated for the years from 2001 to 2035. The WMP for Turkey is expected to be approximately 11.5 million units and has a 52 million US$ revenue potential in 2035. The present study contributes to the literature, as it is the first holistic forecasting study on the quantification of WMPs in Turkey. Moreover, since WMPs include remarkable recovery potential in terms of CE, the data and findings of this study may help policymakers, governments, producers, consumers, and all stakeholders to establish effective e-waste management approaches. Full article

A closed-loop supply chain (CLSC) is the process of adding a reverse supply chain to the traditional forward supply chain. It has a positive effect on reducing environmental pollution, and therefore many governments have introduced relevant policies to encourage enterprises to develop CLSCs. Among them, the reward–penalty policy (RPP) for the recovery rate of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is considered better. At the corporate level, the development of CLSCs can enhance the social responsibility awareness of the enterprise and effectively enhance the corporate image. Therefore, in order to study the decision making and recycling channel selection of CLSCs that consider corporate social responsibility (CSR) under the government’s RPP, this paper constructs a two-stage CLSC, including a manufacturer, a retailer, a third-party recycler, and the government. By adopting the Stackelberg game method, we determine the optimal results of the three models and draw a series of conclusions: (1) when the manufacturer is responsible for recycling WEEE, the profit is the largest, and it shows an increasing trend as the government’s reward–penalty coefficient increases; (2) the manufacturer recycling model enables the manufacturer to obtain the maximum CSR investment level, followed by the third-party recycler recycling model, and the smallest is the retailer recycling model; and (3) the government tends to build third-party recycling agencies, which is conducive to improving the level of contribution to GDP. The conclusion of this paper has certain management inspirations for the decision making of the enterprise and the formulation of government policies. Full article

The massive emission of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases has begun to threaten the survival of human beings and the balance of the Earth’s ecology. If carbon emission is left unchecked, we will face terrible consequences. Closed-loop supply chain operation is an effective way to improve economic and environmental benefits at the same time. This paper attempts to study the decision-making and recycling channel selection of CLSC under carbon allowance and carbon trading policies. This paper constructs a closed-loop supply chain consisting of a manufacturer, a retailer and a third-party recycler, and uses the Stackelberg game-theoretic method to decide variables such as the product price and recycling rate of CLSC under three recycling models. Through the analysis and comparison of the manufacturer’s profit of and the carbon emissions in different models, the following conclusions are drawn. (1) When the manufacturer recycles WEEE, the supply chain obtains the most profit. (2) When the retailer recycles WEEE, the carbon emissions of the supply chain are lowest. (3) The manufacturer tends to choose the M model, which is the manufacturer recycling model. The T model and the R model have little difference in carbon emissions. For easier management, the government prefers to choose the T model, which is the third-party recycler recycling model. Full article