Abstract:Environmental issues have been at the center of society's concerns for a long time. Recently, this kind of concern is growing even more due to the damage caused to the environment by electrical and electronic product waste. Based on this same concern, this work aimed to analyze, through a literature review, the production and treatment of electronic waste in today's world, with an emphasis on Brazil and China. The articles reviewed point to an increase in the production of this type of waste, in both Brazil an… Show more
“…1 , including televisions (TV), refrigerators (RE), washing machines (WM), air conditioners (AC), and computers (PC), are on the fund management list with different levies and subsidies standards (Fu et al 2020 ). There is no doubt that the fund policy-based e-waste management system plays a key role in the entire life cycle of e-waste in China, but it also faces some challenges that may cause it to stagnate (de Albuquerque et al 2020 ). Fig.1 A conceptual framework of redesigned fund policy …”
E-waste is one of the fastest growing streams of solid waste globally, and its effective management has become a focused issue, which requires a deep understanding of the core guiding theory of extended producer responsibility (EPR). Over the past 20 years, China, one of the world’s largest producers of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE), has made great efforts to improve e-waste management along with the massive generation of e-waste. In 2012, China implemented a unique EPR-based e-waste fund policy. However, the fund policy is unsustainable due to the challenges of non-closed resource use, informal recycling, and fund imbalance. Beginning with an overview of these challenges, this paper focuses on redesigning the fund policy from a closed-loop lifecycle perspective in order to maintain a balanced development of the resource use loop and the fund system in China’s ten-year plan. In doing so, two EPR instruments, recycling content standards and consumer-oriented deposits, are added to the current fund policy. Subsequently, three extension scenarios alternately changed a critical parameter of the model to test the impact on sustainable capabilities. In this way, the sustainable supply of funds and secondary resources for the e-waste industry can be established in China and effectively demonstrate solid waste management in developing countries.
“…1 , including televisions (TV), refrigerators (RE), washing machines (WM), air conditioners (AC), and computers (PC), are on the fund management list with different levies and subsidies standards (Fu et al 2020 ). There is no doubt that the fund policy-based e-waste management system plays a key role in the entire life cycle of e-waste in China, but it also faces some challenges that may cause it to stagnate (de Albuquerque et al 2020 ). Fig.1 A conceptual framework of redesigned fund policy …”
E-waste is one of the fastest growing streams of solid waste globally, and its effective management has become a focused issue, which requires a deep understanding of the core guiding theory of extended producer responsibility (EPR). Over the past 20 years, China, one of the world’s largest producers of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE), has made great efforts to improve e-waste management along with the massive generation of e-waste. In 2012, China implemented a unique EPR-based e-waste fund policy. However, the fund policy is unsustainable due to the challenges of non-closed resource use, informal recycling, and fund imbalance. Beginning with an overview of these challenges, this paper focuses on redesigning the fund policy from a closed-loop lifecycle perspective in order to maintain a balanced development of the resource use loop and the fund system in China’s ten-year plan. In doing so, two EPR instruments, recycling content standards and consumer-oriented deposits, are added to the current fund policy. Subsequently, three extension scenarios alternately changed a critical parameter of the model to test the impact on sustainable capabilities. In this way, the sustainable supply of funds and secondary resources for the e-waste industry can be established in China and effectively demonstrate solid waste management in developing countries.
“…The amount of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) generated worldwide has an annual growth of 3-5% [1][2][3] and an estimated annual quantity of more than 53 million metric tons [4]. Brazil is the second largest WEEE generator in the Americas, with an annual production exceeding 2 million metric tons [4] and less than 10% of all this waste is properly treated [5,6].…”
Section: Introductionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…The metallic elements found in electronic scrap can be divided into five groups: precious metals, platinum group metals (PGM), base metals, and elements that pose a risk to the environment, as well as scarce metals [1,11]. Among all the components present in WEEE, Printed Circuit Boards (PCB) can be mentioned as one of the most complex components and with the greatest potential to be a source of materials with high added value [5,12]. Annually, worldwide PCB manufacturing grows by 17 to 25% [13], where on average it represents about 3 to 6% of all mass present in electronic waste [14,15].…”
Section: Introductionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Moreover, practically all recycling centers can only operate the first stages of this process, which would be the equipment separation and dismantling, with the subsequent stages of process being conducted abroad, mostly without any metallic or component recovery being carried out in Brazilian soil. Therefore, complex components with high added value (e.g., PCBs) are normally exported [5,25,26]. Additionally, in Brazil there are a large number of cell phones and other small electronic equipment that are stored, which produces a hibernation stockpile with substantial recycling potential [6].…”
Section: Introductionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…One reason why complex components are exported is that Brazil does not have an operating industrial plant with technology to process these components, thus requiring incentives to carry out studies aimed to develop solutions for their treatment and recycling [5,25,26]. Additionally, in the literature associated with the Brazilian situation, most scientific publications are in the field of WEEE treatment and are mostly focused on its management or related to the use of some specific unit operation/processes, alone or in a small sequence [27].…”
With a generation of more than 2 million metric tons per year, Brazil is the largest producer of waste electrical and electronic equipment in Latin America. However, Brazil does not have its own way for treating printed circuit boards, a key component present in this type of waste. In this context, the processing of these components would allow the extraction of metals with high added value, mainly copper, silver, gold, and palladium. The purpose of this research is to design a conceptual treatment route, based on the integration of technologies described in the literature. After creating the route design, a mass and energy balances were performed, considering two printed circuit board source as raw material: (Case A) Wasted equipment in general; (Case B) Using only cell phones. For both cases, the treatment of 2 t·h−1 was considered. In addition, cost estimates and plant sensitivity analysis were carried out. For 15 years of plant production, the calculated Capex was USD 2,002,682, where an internal return rate of 140.1% and 3933.0% was obtained for Case A and B, respectively, and a net present value of USD 44,403,373 and USD 3,210,393,496 for Case A and B, respectively. Additionally, it was observed that Case A has a great sensitivity to the variation of the processing volume. Based on the present findings, this theoretical research has the potential to be a nucleation point in the design of a future industrial plant dedicated to the recycling of printed circuit boards, as well as to understand the key variables for the processing these components, based on Brazilian circumstances. Additionally, the project presents the hypothetical investment required for the creation of such conceptual plant, which is a crucial piece of information for potential investors.
Brazil is the largest generator of electrical and electronic waste (e-waste) in Latin America but faces significant challenges with its management. This study investigates barriers to the growth of the formal sector in transitioning toward an established e-waste management system in the country. Driven by sustainability transitions research, it applies a transition management approach to e-waste management. The study presents the results of field studies conducted in four organizations with different levels of recycling operations. The results show several barriers, for instance, a lack of processes for the complete separation of metals, high reverse logistics cost, a lack of transparency throughout the supply chains, concern with data security, and a lack of financial incentives and policy integration. The study highlights various initiatives from the organizations that assist in tackling some of the identified barriers and shed light on possible transition pathways. The study provides a perspective from e-waste management organizations and policy insights to strengthen e-waste management in the country.
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