Conceptual foundations for the formation of waste disposal mechanism based on the recycling of e-waste in Ukraine

Abstract

Abstract. Waste products related to scientific and technological progress complicate our life. The amount of electrical and electronic waste is rapidly growing in the structure of household waste. This phenomenon has been observed since the beginning of 1990s due to the development of the information age and its anthropogenic pressure on the environment. Nevertheless, the recycling of e-waste in Ukraine is associated with a lack of competent legal support of the relevant processes because there is no effective mechanism to regulate them at the level of legislation. The article aims to prove the conceptual foundations for the formation of waste disposal mechanism based on the recycling of e-waste. The problem of the use of e-products in Ukraine lies in the open-end cycle of the waste disposal, which creates environmental risks. The volumes of import of e-products in Ukraine are increasing. This requires taking particular steps towards recycling of e-waste. The authors propose a conceptual model of waste disposal mechanism based on the recycling of e-products in Ukraine. The first sub-system of the mechanism provides for the process of consolidation e-waste with its further recycling; the second subsystem provides for the recycling of e-waste along with the removal of valuable components and recycling of toxic substances in an environmentally friendly manner. The suggested model of waste disposal mechanism defines a qualitatively new structural and functional interaction, providing a closed cycle of e-products recycling. Implementation of the suggested initiatives will help to improve the mechanism of waste disposal and increase the efficiency of the secondary market of resources, as well as the ecological situation in the country. Keywords: E-waste; E-products; Recycling; Disposal; Mechanism JEL Classification: H11; K32; L51; L68; O14; Q28 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.21003/ea.V159-19 Кравців В. С. доктор економічних наук, професор, директор, ДУ «Інститут регіональних досліджень імені М. І. Долішнього НАН України», Львів, Україна Колодійчук І. А. кандидат економічних наук, старший науковий співробітник, ДУ «Інститут регіональних досліджень імені М. І. Долішнього НАН України», Львів, Україна Концептуальні засади формування механізму утилізації відходів на основі рециркуляції е-товарів в Україні Анотація. У статті виявлено передумови необхідності розроблення дієвих механізмів регулювання поводження з е-відходами. Запропонована авторами модель визначає якісно нову структурно-функціональну взаємодію потоків, що забезпечують замкнутий цикл використання е-товарів. Перша підсистема зазначеного механізму забезпечує процедуру консолідації е-відходів для подальшої їх утилізації, друга -передбачає безпосередню їх переробку з вилученням цінних компонентів та утилізацією токсичних речовин без шкоди для навколишнього середовища.

Territorial reserves of innovative development of the waste management systems in Ukraine

“…The region is the optimal unit for ensuring a balance between waste generation and disposal, both from the viewpoint of economic efficiency and from the viewpoint of environmental safety. Localization of transport within the region reduces anthropogenic risks and optimizes logistics costs (Kolodiichuk, 2016). The area of the region is also sufficient for the creation of landfills for waste storage and allocation of compromise land plots for the construction of recycling facilities that fully correspond to the structure and parameters of waste.…”

“…Humanity has realized that by improving the conditions of its existence from the viewpoint of the consumer of goods, it simultaneously worsens the global balance of ecosystems with industrial waste, e‐waste, packaging materials, and so on. (Kravtsiv & Kolodiichuk, 2016). Humanity will not be able to give up the benefits of civilization, and it is clear that given the development of scientific and technological progress in the future, the situation will only worsen if adequate decisions and actions are not taken.…”

“…Humanity has realized that by improving the conditions of its existence from the viewpoint of the consumer of goods, it simultaneously worsens the global balance of ecosystems with industrial waste, ewaste, packaging materials, and so on. (Kravtsiv & Kolodiichuk, 2016).…”

Prospects for the Balanced Development of the Waste Management System in Ukraine

“…By ensuring the territorial balance of waste management system, it is possible to reduce the anthropogenic impact on the environment, optimize the current unauthorized landfills, conduct their monitoring and control, and direct potential raw materials for further processing (treatment, reuse), taking into account future prospects (Kravtsiv & Kolodiichuk, 2016;Mane & Niranjan, 2014). In this way the territorial balance determines the content of the waste management, since, then, we can define necessary goals for its functioning.…”

Sustainable development of Ukrainian iron and steel industry enterprises in regards to the bulk manufacturing waste recycling efficiency improvement

“…This indicates that, firstly, this industry-related resource is underestimated by the Ukrainian economy, secondly, the environmental policy in the field of waste handling requires reformation, since enterprises are forced to accumulate slags in piles, and, thirdly, interdisciplinary in the issues of smelter slags recycling are often limited to forprofit efficiency, which reduces the priority of resource conservation and ecology (Onyshchenko, Bryzhan, & Chevhanova, 2014;Kravtsiv & Kolodiichuk, 2016).…”