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The Link between e-Waste and GDP—New Insights from Data from the Pan-European Region

Author

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  • Sigrid Kusch

    (Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, University of Padua, Padua 35131, Italy
    Engineering and the Environment, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK)

  • Colin D. Hills

    (Faculty of Engineering Science, University of Greenwich, Chatham Maritime ME4 4TB, UK)

Abstract

Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is difficult to sustainably manage. One key issue is the challenge of planning for WEEE flows as current and future quantities of waste are difficult to predict. To address this, WEEE generation and gross domestic product (GDP) data from 50 countries of the pan-European region were assessed. A high economic elasticity was identified, indicating that WEEE and GDP are closely interlinked. More detailed analyses revealed that GDP at purchasing power parity (GDP PPP) is a more meaningful measure when looking at WEEE flows, as a linear dependency between WEEE generation and GDP PPP was identified. This dependency applies to the whole region, regardless of the economic developmental stage of individual countries. In the pan-European region, an increase of 1000 international $ GDP PPP means an additional 0.5 kg WEEE is generated that requires management.

Suggested Citation

  • Sigrid Kusch & Colin D. Hills, 2017. "The Link between e-Waste and GDP—New Insights from Data from the Pan-European Region," Resources, MDPI, vol. 6(2), pages 1-10, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jresou:v:6:y:2017:i:2:p:15-:d:94164
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bilal Boubellouta & Sigrid Kusch-Brandt, 2023. "Driving factors of e-waste recycling rate in 30 European countries: new evidence using a panel quantile regression of the EKC hypothesis coupled with the STIRPAT model," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(8), pages 7533-7560, August.

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