Informal electronic waste recycling: A sector review with special focus on China

Chi, Xinwen; Streicher‐Porte, Martin; Wang, Mark; Reuter, M.A.

doi:10.1016/j.wasman.2010.11.006

Cited by 469 publications

(266 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…Their study suggested an improvement in the mechanical properties of preliminary WEEE plastics through use of campatibilizers. Chi et al [21] reviewed low cost informal practices of e-waste recycling with a special focus on China and the problems associated with informal e-waste recycling techniques. Huang et al [22] studied the health hazards for residents around e-waste recycling sites.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sustainable recycling technologies for Solar PV off-grid system

Uppal¹,

Tamboli²,

Wubhayavedantapuram³

2017

E3S Web Conf.

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Policy makers throughout the world have accepted climate change as a repercussion of fossil fuel exploitation. This has led the governments to integrate renewable energy streams in their national energy mix. PV off-grid Systems have been at the forefront of this transition because of their permanently increasing efficiency and cost effectiveness. These systems are expected to produce large amount of different waste streams at the end of their lifetime. It is important that these waste streams should be recycled because of the lack of available resources. Our study found that separate researches have been carried out to increase the efficiencies of recycling of individual PV system components but there is a lack of a comprehensive methodical research which details efficient and sustainable recycling processes for the entire PV off-grid system. This paper reviews the current and future recycling technologies for PV off-grid systems and presents a scheme of the most sustainable recycling technologies which have the potential for adoption. Full Recovery End-of-Life Photovoltaic (FRELP) recycling technology can offer opportunities to sustainably recycle crystalline silicon PV modules. Electro-hydrometallurgical process & Vacuum technologies can be used for recovering lead from lead acid batteries with a high recovery rate. The metals in the WEEE can be recycled by using a combination of biometallurgical technology, vacuum metallurgical technology and other advanced metallurgical technologies (utrasonical, mechano-chemical technology) while the plastic components can be effectively recycled without separation by using compatibilizers. All these advanced technologies when used in combination with each other provide sustainable recycling options for growing PV off-grid systems waste. These promising technologies still need further improvement and require proper integration techniques before implementation.

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Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sustainable recycling technologies for Solar PV off-grid system

Uppal¹,

Tamboli²,

Wubhayavedantapuram³

2017

E3S Web Conf.

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“…The simplicity and smaller investment make it more profitable than formal recycling (Kehtriwal et al, 2007;Chi, 2011). It is also an important source of livelihood for the people involved.…”

Section:  Recovering Copper From Cablementioning

confidence: 99%

Informal Electronic Waste Recycling in Pakistan

Umair¹,

Anderberg²,

Potting³

2016

J Solid Waste Technol Mngmnt

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The aim of this thesis was to study governance aspects of informal electronic waste recycling and to provide better knowledge of the business in terms of structure, stakeholders, governance aspects and social impacts.The thesis consists of a cover essay and two papers appended at the end of the thesis. The cover essay summarizes the papers and puts them in context. The objective of Paper I is to study the business of informal electronic waste recycling in Pakistan and highlight its governance issues.Paper II assesses the social impacts of this business using UNEP-SETAC Guidelines for Social Life Cycle Assessment.The thesis examines these specific questions: Q1) What is the current Paper I presents the international and local e-waste flows, business structure, the stakeholders involved and the existing governance issues of the business. It shows weak enforcement of legislation, the complexities emerging with numerous stakeholders, the profitability of informal recycling, little concern for the health damaging exposure for workers from the poorest and most vulnerable people in society, and lack of awareness of the hazards involved. The paper also highlights how this 2 business lacks characteristics of good governance, which makes it a challenge to control this business.Paper II assesses the social impacts of informal e-waste recycling in Pakistan using UNEP/SETAC guidelines for conducting a Social Lifecycle Assessment (SLCA). It showed that this business has positive impacts relating to societal issues and individual/family economics, and in the economic development of Pakistan but otherwise most impacts are negative. The findings of Paper II fill an important data gap and can be integrated with data on other stages of ICT product lifecycle to produce a full SLCA of such products. Resultaten av studien fyller en viktig kunskapslucka och kan integreras med uppgifter om andra stadier av elektroniska produkters livscykel för att göra en full SLCA av sådana produkter.

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“…As a result, about 20-50 million tones of electronic wastes (e-wastes) are generated worldwide every year [1]. In China, more than 2 million tons of e-wastes are generated each year, and the figure is expected to increase to approximately 5.4 million tons by 2015 [2,3]. E-wastes, thought as one of the largest sources of heavy metals and organic pollutants in municipal waste, have become a serious problem [2].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In China, more than 2 million tons of e-wastes are generated each year, and the figure is expected to increase to approximately 5.4 million tons by 2015 [2,3]. E-wastes, thought as one of the largest sources of heavy metals and organic pollutants in municipal waste, have become a serious problem [2]. Among which, organic pollutants, mainly brominated flame retardants, have became the focus of research in recent years [4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%