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Managing e-waste in China: Policies, pilot projects and alternative approaches

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  • Yu, Jinglei
  • Williams, Eric
  • Ju, Meiting
  • Shao, Chaofeng

Abstract

As the largest exporter of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) and importer of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE, also called e-waste) around the world, China plays a key role in the global life cycle of electronics. This paper reviews the existing framework for e-waste management in China including regulatory policies and pilot projects. The Chinese government has been active in creating a legislative and institutional framework to realize e-waste recycling. Pilot projects have been established with the intent to test new formal systems to replace informal recycling. These projects have usually failed to collect sufficient e-waste, mainly because informal recyclers pay consumers for their e-waste and pilot projects do not. Challenges to implementing e-waste reuse/recycling systems particular to the Chinese situation are analyzed and two alternative policy approaches are proposed to deal with these challenges. The first policy approach proposed is a system which shares financial responsibility among consumers, manufacturers and the government. The system includes a deposit returned to consumers as an incentive to turn in e-waste. The second proposal is, where appropriate, to include an e-waste channel which mixes informal and formal sectors, with the informal sector handling collection and reuse and the formal sector responsible for dismantling and recycling.

Suggested Citation

  • Yu, Jinglei & Williams, Eric & Ju, Meiting & Shao, Chaofeng, 2010. "Managing e-waste in China: Policies, pilot projects and alternative approaches," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 54(11), pages 991-999.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:recore:v:54:y:2010:i:11:p:991-999
    DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2010.02.006
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ravallion, Martin, 2009. "Are There Lessons for Africa from China's Success Against Poverty?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 37(2), pages 303-313, February.
    2. Kahhat, Ramzy & Kim, Junbeum & Xu, Ming & Allenby, Braden & Williams, Eric & Zhang, Peng, 2008. "Exploring e-waste management systems in the United States," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 52(7), pages 955-964.
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    1. Dwivedy, Maheshwar & Suchde, Pratik & Mittal, R.K., 2015. "Modeling and assessment of e-waste take-back strategies in India," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 11-18.
    2. Mallawarachchi, Harshani & Karunasena, Gayani, 2012. "Electronic and electrical waste management in Sri Lanka: Suggestions for national policy enhancements," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 44-53.
    3. Kilic, Huseyin Selcuk & Cebeci, Ufuk & Ayhan, Mustafa Batuhan, 2015. "Reverse logistics system design for the waste of electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) in Turkey," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 120-132.
    4. Lynda Andeobu & Santoso Wibowo & Srimannarayana Grandhi, 2021. "A Systematic Review of E-Waste Generation and Environmental Management of Asia Pacific Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-18, August.
    5. Dou, Yijie & Sarkis, Joseph, 2013. "A multiple stakeholder perspective on barriers to implementing China RoHS regulations," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 92-104.
    6. Gautam, Ayush & Shankar, Ravi & Vrat, Prem, 2022. "Managing end-of-life solar photovoltaic e-waste in India: A circular economy approach," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 287-300.
    7. Natalie W. M. Wong, 2018. "Electronic Waste Governance under “One Country, Two Systems”: Hong Kong and Mainland China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-16, October.
    8. Kun Wang & Junxi Qian & Lixiong Liu, 2020. "Understanding Environmental Pollutions of Informal E-Waste Clustering in Global South via Multi-Scalar Regulatory Frameworks: A Case Study of Guiyu Town, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-18, April.
    9. An, Da & Yang, Yu & Chai, Xilong & Xi, Beidou & Dong, Lichun & Ren, Jingzheng, 2015. "Mitigating pollution of hazardous materials from WEEE of China: Portfolio selection for a sustainable future based on multi-criteria decision making," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 105(PA), pages 198-210.
    10. Davis, John-Michael & Garb, Yaakov, 2015. "A model for partnering with the informal e-waste industry: Rationale, principles and a case study," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 105(PA), pages 73-83.
    11. Cheng, Peiyue & Wang, Tingsong, 2023. "Optimizing the emission control policies and trade-in program effects: A carbon-constrained closed-loop supply chain network model," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    12. Ardente, Fulvio & Mathieux, Fabrice & Recchioni, Marco, 2014. "Recycling of electronic displays: Analysis of pre-processing and potential ecodesign improvements," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 158-171.
    13. Feras Y. Fraige & Laila A. Al-Khatib & Mou’ath A. Al-Shaweesh, 2023. "Predicting WEEE Generation Rates in Jordan Using Population Balance Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-17, February.

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