The Best-of-2-Worlds philosophy: Developing local dismantling and global infrastructure network for sustainable e-waste treatment in emerging economies

Reverse Logistics of E-Waste in Developing Countries: Challenges and Prospects for the Brazilian Model

“…A development due to project StEP was the creation of a consortium joining two multinational EEE manufacturers, an EEE reconditioning company, a European precious metals refinery, several research institutes and a mixed metal waste recycling company, to create the ideal WEEE large scale recycling model in China. This initiative was reported by Wang et al (2012), in their analysis of the environmental and economic benefits of implementing the Best of 2 Worlds (Bo2W) philosophy in developing countries. Their study compared the results to a low-scale Indian model implemented by the Swiss WEEE Program through EMPA, involving the informal sector in Bangalore in partnership with local recyclers.…”

“…After one and a half years, Wang et al (2012) demonstrate that the large scale recycling system implemented in China, despite the amount of technical knowledge generated, was not efficient. One of the main challenges they faced was a lack of sufficient WEEE, at reasonable prices, to sustain the daily operation of the plant.…”

“…The project to treat such materials in an environmentally sound way became economically unfeasible for the consortium, losing in competitiveness to the informal sector. Wang et al (2012) argue that implementing a Bo2W recycling infrastructure in large scale in China can only be successful when adequate laws are in effect.…”

“…In pre-processing and manual disassembling phase, local informal labor was employed, with incentives to produce ideal lots to be shipped to the European recycling plant. Wang et al (2012) have identified an important financial barrier in the gap between waste shipment and post-processing payment by the European plant, since the informal sector works based on daily payments for production. This model is supported by the size and costs of the informal recycling sector, saves thousands of jobs and guarantees minimal wages for workers.…”

“…Initiatives in emerging economies like India, China and Brazil show that specific models must be adapted to local reality. The emerging model of RL in these countries is forced to cope with the lack of appropriate legislation and economic incentives, low public awareness, unbranded products and informal street waste pickers who are responsible for the increase in e-waste collection and processing with little regard to health, safety and environmental protection (Schluep et al, 2009, Manomaivibool, Vassanadumrongdee, 2011, Wang et al, 2012.…”