Global Metal Reuse, and Formal and Informal Recycling from Electronic and Other High‐Tech Wastes

Williams, I.D.

doi:10.1002/9781119009115.ch2

Cited by 15 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 65 publications

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“…The concept of obsolescence is reflected in this study's results since the majority of respondents discarded HE EEE that were working properly because they wanted a more up-to-date model ( Table 5). The concept of planned product obsolescence driven by manufacturers who knowingly produce 'disposable goods' to promote repetitive consumption is often discussed in current literature (Williams, 2016;McCollough, 2009;. However, findings from this study show that less than 3% of respondents discarded items that were new but had stopped working (Table 5), indicating that fashion and technological obsolescence were more prevalent across the surveyed sample instead.…”

Section: Evolution Of He Electronicsmentioning

confidence: 62%

“…Modern high-tech EEE such as home entertainment equipment are especially rich in metals and critical raw materials (e.g. platinum group metals and rare earth elements) and make up a large proportion of anthropogenic stocks (Massari & Ruberti, 2013;Golev et al, 2016;Williams, 2016). These secondary resources may be exploited via urban mining, helping the transition towards a circular economy (Izzat et al, 2014;Ongondo et al, 2015;Simon & Holm, 2018).…”

Section: Hoarding Of Weeementioning

confidence: 99%

“…These factors generate serious environmental concerns, as they prevent the exploitation of a large proportion of material stocks, resulting in the extraction of additional natural resources to meet product demand . In the EU alone, it is reported that from the 12 million tonnes of WEEE disposed of annually, only 30% is properly collected and recycled (Williams, 2016); with most small WEEE such as Universal Serial Bus (USB) sticks, mobile phones, electric toothbrushes, or lamps ending up in the general waste (Baldé et al, 2015). Consumer behaviours associated with their intent to sell, reuse, recycle, discard, or hoard (W)EEE determines the extent of an urban mine's exploitation.…”

Section: Hoarding Of Weeementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Since their invention, HE systems in the form of audio devices (speakers and radios), televisions, video players and games consoles have revolutionised the market economy globally. Through the decades, the growing demand for the production of electronic goods within developed economies has been gradually reinforcing the principles of a "throwaway society", which are associated with rapid product replacement and high market competition (Williams, 2016). An analysis of the evolution of HE EEE from 1861 until the present day is depicted in Appendix 1, which documents and illustrates how audio speakers, televisions and video players, and game consoles have evolved from inception to the present day.…”

Section: Evolution Of Home Entertainment Technologiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Why Do (W)eee Hoard? The Effect of Consumer Behaviour on the Release of Home Entertainment Products Into the Circular Economy

Wilkinson¹,

Williams

2020

Detritus

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Home entertainment (HE) products are particularly rich in metals and plastics and thus have enormous potential as a source of materials from within Distinct Urban Mines (DUMs). Consumers’ end-of-life (EoL) management decisions (i.e. stockpiling, hoarding, reusing, discarding of WEEE) strongly influence the exploitation potential of a DUM. This study aimed to assess the effect of consumer behaviour on the release of HE (W)EEE into the circular economy. A survey was undertaken in Southampton (Hampshire, UK) to assess perceptions and behaviours relating to the EoL management of HE (W)EEE. The study provides previously unavailable data and critical evaluation on the ownership, use and hoarding levels of HE EEE in a typical city DUM, and the reasons behind their hoarding. Results indicated that ownership levels were very high, with an average of 12 home entertainment items owned per household. This makes urban areas extremely plausible as DUMs; we estimate that there are over 1 million HE devices owned and ~440,000 HE devices hoarded in Southampton and >150 million HE EEE owned and ~61 million HE devices hoarded in UK households. Hoarding is common, especially for smaller or older equipment, due to their perceived residual value. HE product lifecycles averaged 4-5 years. The most common EoL routes were donating to relatives, friends or charities; hoarding; recycling; or discarding items in general refuse. To encourage the recovery of EoL HE equipment: i) convenient and accessible WEEE collection points should be established for regular (periodic) harvesting and ii) promoted via awareness campaigns and incentives.

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Section: Evolution Of He Electronicsmentioning

confidence: 62%

Section: Hoarding Of Weeementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Hoarding Of Weeementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Evolution Of Home Entertainment Technologiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Why Do (W)eee Hoard? The Effect of Consumer Behaviour on the Release of Home Entertainment Products Into the Circular Economy

Wilkinson¹,

Williams

2020

Detritus

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“…Contemporary high-tech EEE such as home entertainment equipment is especially rich in metals and critical raw materials (e.g. rare earth metals and platinum group metals) and constitutes a marked portion of anthropogenic stocks (Massari & Ruberti, 2013;Golev et al, 2016;Williams, 2016). Demand for consumer electronics is increasing and device usage cycles are shortening, which results in the generation of large quantities of discarded items.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Demonstrating reuse of EEE in a distinct urban mine: a case study

et al. 2021

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At the heart of the circular economy model is the reorientation of consumer behaviours away from disposing of items before they reach end of their functional life as a step towards resource efficiency and reduction of environmental impacts. One way to facilitate this change is to enable proactive redistribution of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) with reuse value from urban spaces followed by high quality recycling at end-of-life. We have conducted the first assessment and critical evaluation of a model for the recovery of reusable EEE from a distinct urban mine (DUM) - in this case, a university. The Infrastructure, Service and Behaviour (ISB) model was used as a guide for interventions. EEE recovered from two Halls of Residence at the University of Southampton were characterised and sorted. From the items inspected, 97% was reusable and were donated to participating charities for redistribution via reuse/sale. The results show that an ISB Model system designed using choice architecture to recover reusable EEE from a DUM contributes strongly to extending products’ lifetimes and promotes circular economy ambitions. The study provides strong evidence of a viable reuse-based recovery system for small EEE in a university DUM and with a potential for replicability at global scale. It is recommended that a carefully planned and tailored system based on the ISB model should be put in place in universities for the recovery and redistribution of reusable EEE (ReEEE) and that recycling is implemented only after practical options for reuse have been exhausted.

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Selective Recovery of Platinum Group Metals and Rare Earth Metals from Complex Matrices Using a Green Chemistry/Molecular Recognition Technology Approach

Izatt

McKenzie

Bruening

et al. 2016

Metal Sustainability

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Global Metal Reuse, and Formal and Informal Recycling from Electronic and Other High‐Tech Wastes

Cited by 15 publications

References 65 publications

Why Do (W)eee Hoard? The Effect of Consumer Behaviour on the Release of Home Entertainment Products Into the Circular Economy

Why Do (W)eee Hoard? The Effect of Consumer Behaviour on the Release of Home Entertainment Products Into the Circular Economy

Demonstrating reuse of EEE in a distinct urban mine: a case study

Selective Recovery of Platinum Group Metals and Rare Earth Metals from Complex Matrices Using a Green Chemistry/Molecular Recognition Technology Approach

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