Models for recycling electronics end-of-life products

When and for whom would e-waste be a treasure trove? Insights from a network equilibrium model of e-waste flows

“…Sodhi and Reimer (2001) developed optimization models for each member of an electronics recycling network and obtained results using data from the U.S. recycling industry. In their models, prices and transportation costs are exogenously defined, and competition between members is ignored.…”

“…In addition, let node n + 1 at the second tier denote illegal dumping by consumers, let node o + 1 at the third tier denote offshoring of recycling activities by recyclers who send e-waste outside the country and let node p+1 at the fourth tier denote disposal of waste in leachate-controlled landfills by smelters. Here, we follow the common network structure that can be found in Sodhi and Reimer (2001). Recyclers collect, sort and disassemble e-waste that they get from sources.…”

“…Following reports of companies that collect end-of-life e-wastes and previous related research (e.g., Sodhi and Reimer, 2001;Chatterjee and Kumar, 2009), recyclers in our model are entities that accept e-waste from end-users and who segregate and disassemble the waste. According to Sodhi and Reimer (2001), the disassembly of waste can enhance its value in three ways: 1. through the sale of components leads to higher revenue than material recovery; 2. through additional recoverable material from disassembled subassemblies; and 3. through separated subassemblies being sent to different smelters for a more profitable material recovery than the entire e-waste being sent to a single smelter (e.g.…”

“…90% of this waste is still landfilled or incinerated, which not only damages the environment but also poses health risks to society (Savage, 2006). WEEE recycling and its management have unique associated challenges since WEEE is usually a composition of several materials, including hazardous ones, such as, for example, mercury, sulfur, and cadmium and precious ones, such as iron, copper, gold and nickel (Sodhi and Reimer, 2001). The establishment of sound collection systems for WEEE is of high priority in many countries.…”

Sustainable sourcing of strategic raw materials by integrating recycled materials

“…smart phones (Kiesmüller and Van der Laan 2001;Sodhi and Reimer 2001;Savage et al 2006;Wakolbinger et al 2014). In order to cope with growing waste streams, regulations like the Waste of Electric and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive (Directive 2002/96/EC) have been established to deal with the challenges of products at their end of life and to contribute to the aim of minimizing waste.…”