IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v8y2016i7p633-d73358.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Challenges in Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Management: A Profitability Assessment in Three European Countries

Author

Listed:
  • Idiano D’Adamo

    (Department of Industrial and Information Engineering and Economics, University of L’Aquila, Via G. Gronchi 18, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy)

  • Paolo Rosa

    (Department of Management, Economics and Industrial Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy)

  • Sergio Terzi

    (Department of Management, Economics and Industrial Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy)

Abstract

Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is known as an important source of secondary raw materials. Since decades, its treatment allowed to recover great amounts of basic resources. However, the management of electronic components embedded in WEEE still presents many challenges. The purpose of the paper is to cope with some of these challenges through the definition of an economic model able to identify the presence of profitability within the recovery process of waste printed circuit boards (WPCBs). To this aim, a set of common economic indexes is used within the paper. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis on a set of critical variables is conducted to evaluate their impact on the results. Finally, the combination of predicted WEEE volumes (collected during the 2015–2030 period) in three European countries (Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom) and related economic indexes quantify the potential advantage coming from the recovery of this kind of waste in the next future.

Suggested Citation

  • Idiano D’Adamo & Paolo Rosa & Sergio Terzi, 2016. "Challenges in Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Management: A Profitability Assessment in Three European Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(7), pages 1-19, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:8:y:2016:i:7:p:633-:d:73358
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/8/7/633/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/8/7/633/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Cucchiella, Federica & D’Adamo, Idiano & Lenny Koh, S.C. & Rosa, Paolo, 2015. "Recycling of WEEEs: An economic assessment of present and future e-waste streams," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 263-272.
    2. Min-Ren Yan & Kuo-Ming Chien & Tai-Ning Yang, 2016. "Green Component Procurement Collaboration for Improving Supply Chain Management in the High Technology Industries: A Case Study from the Systems Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(2), pages 1-16, January.
    3. Cao, Jian & Lu, Bo & Chen, Yangyang & Zhang, Xuemei & Zhai, Guangshu & Zhou, Gengui & Jiang, Boxin & Schnoor, Jerald L., 2016. "Extended producer responsibility system in China improves e-waste recycling: Government policies, enterprise, and public awareness," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 882-894.
    4. Ilaria Barletta & Jon Larborn & Mahesh Mani & Björn Johannson, 2016. "Towards an Assessment Methodology to Support Decision Making for Sustainable Electronic Waste Management Systems: Automatic Sorting Technology," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(1), pages 1-20, January.
    5. Chia-Nan Wang & Xuan-Tho Nguyen & Yen-Hui Wang, 2016. "Automobile Industry Strategic Alliance Partner Selection: The Application of a Hybrid DEA and Grey Theory Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(2), pages 1-18, February.
    6. Cucchiella, Federica & D’Adamo, Idiano & Lenny Koh, S.C. & Rosa, Paolo, 2016. "A profitability assessment of European recycling processes treating printed circuit boards from waste electrical and electronic equipments," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 749-760.
    7. Ruan, Jujun & Xu, Zhenming, 2016. "Constructing environment-friendly return road of metals from e-waste: Combination of physical separation technologies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 745-760.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Guangzhou Yan & Yaodong Ni & Xiangfeng Yang, 2020. "Optimal Pricing in Recycling and Remanufacturing in Uncertain Environments," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-16, April.
    2. Patrizia Ghisellini & Ivana Quinto & Renato Passaro & Sergio Ulgiati, 2023. "Circular Economy Management of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) in Italian Urban Systems: Comparison and Perspectives," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-26, June.
    3. Mohd Helmi Ali & Suhaiza Zailani & Mohammad Iranmanesh & Behzad Foroughi, 2019. "Impacts of Environmental Factors on Waste, Energy, and Resource Management and Sustainable Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-16, April.
    4. Beáta Stehlíková & Katarína Čulková & Marcela Taušová & Ľubomír Štrba & Eva Mihaliková, 2021. "Evaluation of Communal Waste in Slovakia from the View of Chosen Economic Indicators," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-22, August.
    5. Ksenija Denčić-Mihajlov & Mladen Krstić & Dejan Spasić, 2020. "Sensitivity Analysis as a Tool in Environmental Policy for Sustainability: The Case of Waste Recycling Projects in the Republic of Serbia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-19, September.
    6. Hilal Shams & Altaf Hossain Molla & Mohd Nizam Ab Rahman & Hawa Hishamuddin & Zambri Harun & Nallapaneni Manoj Kumar, 2023. "Exploring Industry-Specific Research Themes on E-Waste: A Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-22, August.
    7. Mattia Cottes & Matia Mainardis & Patrizia Simeoni, 2023. "Assessing the Techno-Economic Feasibility of Waste Electric and Electronic Equipment Treatment Plant: A Multi-Decisional Modeling Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-16, November.
    8. Qingduo Mao & Manli Zhang & Ben Ma, 2018. "Benefit and Risk Perceptions of Controversial Facilities: A Comparison between Local Officials and the Public in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-16, April.
    9. 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.
    10. Idiano D’Adamo & Paolo Rosa, 2019. "A Structured Literature Review on Obsolete Electric Vehicles Management Practices," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(23), pages 1-17, December.
    11. Francesco Ferella & Idiano D’Adamo & Simona Leone & Valentina Innocenzi & Ida De Michelis & Francesco Vegliò, 2018. "Spent FCC E-Cat: Towards a Circular Approach in the Oil Refining Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-19, December.
    12. Giulia Caruso & Emiliano Colantonio & Stefano Antonio Gattone, 2020. "Relationships between Renewable Energy Consumption, Social Factors, and Health: A Panel Vector Auto Regression Analysis of a Cluster of 12 EU Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-16, April.
    13. Zeynep Ozsut Bogar & Askiner Gungor, 2023. "Forecasting Waste Mobile Phone (WMP) Quantity and Evaluating the Potential Contribution to the Circular Economy: A Case Study of Turkey," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-38, February.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Zeng, Xianlai & Duan, Huabo & Wang, Feng & Li, Jinhui, 2017. "Examining environmental management of e-waste: China's experience and lessons," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 1076-1082.
    2. Horațiu Vermeșan & Ancuța-Elena Tiuc & Marius Purcar, 2019. "Advanced Recovery Techniques for Waste Materials from IT and Telecommunication Equipment Printed Circuit Boards," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-23, December.
    3. Sohani Vihanga Withanage & Komal Habib, 2021. "Life Cycle Assessment and Material Flow Analysis: Two Under-Utilized Tools for Informing E-Waste Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-21, July.
    4. Daniela Cordova-Pizarro & Ismael Aguilar-Barajas & David Romero & Ciro A. Rodriguez, 2019. "Circular Economy in the Electronic Products Sector: Material Flow Analysis and Economic Impact of Cellphone E-Waste in Mexico," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-18, March.
    5. Jian Cao & Jiayang Xu & Hui Wang & Xuemei Zhang & Xihui Chen & Yunwen Zhao & Xiaoli Yang & Gengui Zhou & Jerald L. Schnoor, 2018. "Innovating Collection Modes for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-33, May.
    6. Panchal, Rohit & Singh, Anju & Diwan, Hema, 2021. "Economic potential of recycling e-waste in India and its impact on import of materials," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    7. Cucchiella, Federica & D’Adamo, Idiano & Gastaldi, Massimo & Koh, SC Lenny & Rosa, Paolo, 2017. "A comparison of environmental and energetic performance of European countries: A sustainability index," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 401-413.
    8. Cucchiella, Federica & D’Adamo, Idiano & Lenny Koh, S.C. & Rosa, Paolo, 2016. "A profitability assessment of European recycling processes treating printed circuit boards from waste electrical and electronic equipments," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 749-760.
    9. Lichi Zhang & Yanyan Jiang & Junmin Wu, 2022. "Evolutionary Game Analysis of Government and Residents’ Participation in Waste Separation Based on Cumulative Prospect Theory," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-16, November.
    10. Federica Cucchiella & Idiano D’Adamo & Paolo Rosa, 2015. "Industrial Photovoltaic Systems: An Economic Analysis in Non-Subsidized Electricity Markets," Energies, MDPI, vol. 8(11), pages 1-16, November.
    11. Fu Jia & Yan Jiang, 2018. "Sustainable Global Sourcing: A Systematic Literature Review and Bibliometric Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-26, February.
    12. Haiyun, Cui & Zhixiong, Huang & Yüksel, Serhat & Dinçer, Hasan, 2021. "Analysis of the innovation strategies for green supply chain management in the energy industry using the QFD-based hybrid interval valued intuitionistic fuzzy decision approach," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    13. Kumar, Anil & Shemi, Alan & Chipise, Liberty & Moodley, Sanchia & Yah, Clarence S. & Ndlovu, Sehliselo, 2023. "Can microbial Bio-CN be a sustainable alternative to the chemical cyanidation of precious metals? An update and way forward," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    14. Jeoung Yul Lee & Ilkhom Okmirzaevich Irisboev & Yeon-Sik Ryu, 2021. "Literature Review on Digitalization in Facilities Management and Facilities Management Performance Measurement: Contribution of Industry 4.0 in the Global Era," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-29, December.
    15. Neves, Sónia Almeida & Marques, António Cardoso & de Sá Lopes, Leonardo Batista, 2024. "Is environmental regulation keeping e-waste under control? Evidence from e-waste exports in the European Union," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 216(C).
    16. Ivan Deviatkin & Sanna Rousu & Malahat Ghoreishi & Mohammad Naji Nassajfar & Mika Horttanainen & Ville Leminen, 2022. "Implementation of Circular Economy Strategies within the Electronics Sector: Insights from Finnish Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-11, March.
    17. Maria Loredana Nicolescu & Marius Nicolae Jula, 2015. "Analysis Of Household Behaviour To The Collection Of Waste Electrical And Electronic Equipment In Romania," Global Economic Observer, "Nicolae Titulescu" University of Bucharest, Faculty of Economic Sciences;Institute for World Economy of the Romanian Academy, vol. 3(2), pages 19-26, November.
    18. Lyu, Tu & Chen, Hao & Guo, Yulin, 2023. "Investigating innovation diffusion, social influence, and personal inner forces to understand people's participation in online e-waste recycling," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    19. Secinaro, Silvana & Calandra, Davide & Lanzalonga, Federico & Ferraris, Alberto, 2022. "Electric vehicles’ consumer behaviours: Mapping the field and providing a research agenda," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 399-416.
    20. Bonou, Alexandra & Laurent, Alexis & Olsen, Stig I., 2016. "Life cycle assessment of onshore and offshore wind energy-from theory to application," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 180(C), pages 327-337.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:8:y:2016:i:7:p:633-:d:73358. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.