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Social impact assessment of informal recycling of electronic ICT waste in Pakistan using UNEP SETAC guidelines

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  • Umair, Shakila
  • Björklund, Anna
  • Petersen, Elisabeth Ekener

Abstract

New and improved Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is being produced every day. With every new product on the market, an older product becomes obsolete. These obsolete products are being added to the world's fastest growing waste stream, ICT electronic waste (e-waste). This is formally recycled in developed countries, stockpiled, landfilled or shipped to developing countries, such as Pakistan, here it is recycled informally through crude processes (e.g. manual dismantling, burning, dumping and dipping in acids to extract gold and other precious metals). This study assessed the social impacts of informal e-waste recycling in Pakistan using data obtained in a detailed on-site inventory of the processes directly involved in informal e-waste recycling. The inventory and assessment were conducted according to United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) guidelines on Social Life Cycle Assessment (SLCA). The results presented in this paper 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.

Suggested Citation

  • Umair, Shakila & Björklund, Anna & Petersen, Elisabeth Ekener, 2015. "Social impact assessment of informal recycling of electronic ICT waste in Pakistan using UNEP SETAC guidelines," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 46-57.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:recore:v:95:y:2015:i:c:p:46-57
    DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2014.11.008
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    13. 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.
    14. Muhammad Nawaz & Muhammad Tariq Yousafzai & Salim Khan & Wisal Ahmad & Muhammad Salman & Heesup Han & Antonio Ariza-Montes & Alejandro Vega-Muñoz, 2021. "Assessing the Formal and Informal Waste Recycling Business Processes through a Stakeholders Lens in Pakistan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-16, October.
    15. Borthakur, Anwesha & Govind, Madhav, 2017. "Emerging trends in consumers’ E-waste disposal behaviour and awareness: A worldwide overview with special focus on India," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 117(PB), pages 102-113.
    16. Louisa Pollok & Sebastian Spierling & Hans-Josef Endres & Ulrike Grote, 2021. "Social Life Cycle Assessments: A Review on Past Development, Advances and Methodological Challenges," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-29, September.
    17. Yıldız-Geyhan, Eren & Altun-Çiftçioğlu, Gökçen Alev & Kadırgan, Mehmet Arif Neşet, 2017. "Social life cycle assessment of different packaging waste collection system," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 1-12.
    18. Saidia Ali & Farid Shirazi, 2022. "A Transformer-Based Machine Learning Approach for Sustainable E-Waste Management: A Comparative Policy Analysis between the Swiss and Canadian Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-22, October.
    19. Longsheng, Cheng & Ali Shah, Syed Ahsan & Solangi, Yasir Ahmed & Ahmad, Munir & Ali, Sharafat, 2022. "An integrated SWOT-multi-criteria analysis of implementing sustainable waste-to-energy in Pakistan," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 195(C), pages 1438-1453.
    20. Gu, Yifan & Wu, Yufeng & Xu, Ming & Wang, Huaidong & Zuo, Tieyong, 2016. "The stability and profitability of the informal WEEE collector in developing countries: A case study of China," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 18-26.

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