How big is circular economy potential on Caribbean islands considering e-waste?

Mohammadi, Elham; Singh, Simron; Habib, Komal

doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.128457

Cited by 20 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 58 publications

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“…They pointed out that islands are constrained systems that frequently face a number of sustainability barriers, including insufficient land and resource accessibility along with urgent waste management problems. SIDS have several challenges, including a lack of opportunity for recycling and resale, insufficient legislation, and obstacles to exporting waste to other nations (Mohammadi et al, 2021b; see also Camilleri-Fenech et al, 2018;Fuldauer et al, 2019), consequently, innovative approaches are needed (UNEP, 2019 as cited in Mohammadi et al, 2021b). Forty percent of the world's biodiversity is found in the Caribbean, along with Latin America and if not properly handled, the e-waste that is kept in the region might pose a serious hazard to these hotspots, according to Mohammadi et al (2021b).…”

Section: E-waste Generation 31 Global Aspect Of E-waste Generationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…SIDS have several challenges, including a lack of opportunity for recycling and resale, insufficient legislation, and obstacles to exporting waste to other nations (Mohammadi et al, 2021b; see also Camilleri-Fenech et al, 2018;Fuldauer et al, 2019), consequently, innovative approaches are needed (UNEP, 2019 as cited in Mohammadi et al, 2021b). Forty percent of the world's biodiversity is found in the Caribbean, along with Latin America and if not properly handled, the e-waste that is kept in the region might pose a serious hazard to these hotspots, according to Mohammadi et al (2021b). Despite these well-known issues, there is a dearth of research aimed at assisting small island nations in creating effective e-waste management systems, as noted by Mohammadi et al (2021a).…”

Section: E-waste Generation 31 Global Aspect Of E-waste Generationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Strategies for Transitioning to Sustainable E-Waste Management Systems Globally, Regionally and Nationally

2024

IJIRMPS

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The quantity of electronic waste generated globally is rising rapidly as a result of advanced technology, over reliance, and the use of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) beyond comprehension. The rapid technological advancements has resulted in a reduced lifespan of EEE resulting in enormous amounts of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). It is well recognized that EEE contains complex metallic and non-metallic components that, if improperly managed, can seriously disrupt the environment and endanger the survival of life. The majority of industrialized nations possess advanced methods for managing e-waste, well-defined system boundaries, technological expertise, strict legislation, appropriate recycling facilities, and trade with emerging and impoverished countries. However, because of a number of issues and a dearth of pertinent policies, the situation in emerging nations is different. WEEE are handled in developing nations by using a variety of low-end methods, including product reuse, traditional landfill disposal, open burning, and rudimentary "backyard" recycling. The bulk of developing and less developed countries lack the necessary legislation, gaps in policy formulation, socioeconomic and cultural hurdles, technology, and treatment facilities. The main issues affecting Guyana's management include absence of legislation, safe options for treatment and disposal, and inadequate inventory of data. The strategic interventions that are essential for sustainable e-waste management include urban mining, embracing the concept of a circular economy, fortifying existing laws and regulations, investing in adequate facilities for handling all waste streams and coordination and cooperation among all of the key stakeholders.

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Section: E-waste Generation 31 Global Aspect Of E-waste Generationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: E-waste Generation 31 Global Aspect Of E-waste Generationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Strategies for Transitioning to Sustainable E-Waste Management Systems Globally, Regionally and Nationally

2024

IJIRMPS

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“…Previous research has demonstrated the value of material flow analysis (MFA) as an innovative means of measuring levels of socioeconomic metabolism in the context of small islands. Most SMR focuses on inflows (Bahers et al., 2022; Chertow et al., 2020; Eisenhut, 2009; Krausmann et al., 2014; Rahman et al., 2022; Singh et al., 2001), very few on biophysical stocks (Bradshaw et al., 2020; Noll et al., 2019; Symmes et al., 20190) and outflows (Eckelman et al., 2014; Elgie et al., 2021; Mohammadi et al., 2021), however only one uses a mass‐balanced approach to explore the potential for a “circular economy” in an island context (Noll et al., 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Examples of this in small islands include St. Eustatius in the Caribbean, where soil erosion caused by goats grazing and marine resource extraction (e.g., fishing for conch) both impact the marine ecosystem, which is a prime source for tourism in the island (Polman et al, 2016); Nauru in the Pacific Ocean showed signs of exploitation of a single key resource (phosphate mining), which in turn had devastating environmental consequences (McDaniel & Gowdy, 2000;Pollock, 2014); and in Bonaire in the Caribbean, tourism-related coastal development and high import dependency of basic needs (e.g., water, energy, and food) is pressuring island resilience through habitat loss, waste generation, and high import costs (Slijkerman & van der Geest, 2019). Resource-use patterns can contribute to global environmental change but also determine their own vulnerability or resilience to those changes.…”

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confidence: 99%

Can a small island nation build resilience? The significance of resource‐use patterns and socio‐metabolic risks in The Bahamas

Campo

Singh

Fishman

et al. 2023

J of Industrial Ecology

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Resource‐use patterns may entail systemic risks and cascade effects, which consequently inhibit the ability to deliver socioeconomic services. Identifying resource‐use patterns exhibiting systemic risks and reshaping their combinations is a potential lever in realizing the transition to a sustainable, resilient, and resource‐secure system. Using an island context to assess the quantity and composition of resource throughput enables a more comprehensive analysis of these risks. This article presents the first mass‐balance account of socio‐metabolic flows for The Bahamas in 2018, to identify socio‐metabolic risks and cascading effects. Socio‐metabolic risks are systemic risks related to critical resource availability, material circulation integrity, and (in)equities in cost and benefit distributions. We utilize the economy‐wide material flow accounting framework to map the material flow patterns across the economy. In 2018, annual direct material input was estimated at 9.4 t/cap/yr, of which 60% were imports. High masses of waste (1.4 t/cap/yr) remained unrecovered due to the lack of recycling. Total domestic extraction (DE) were dominated by non‐metallic minerals with more than 80%, while marine biomass makes up barely 1% of total DE. Due to its linear, undiversified metabolism, and heavy imports dependency, the system is susceptible to socio‐metabolic risks and cascading effects including low levels of self‐sufficiency, high vulnerability to shocks, commodity price fluctuations, threats to sensitive ecosystems, health impacts, and economic losses, among others. A holistic resource management strategy and nature‐based solutions that consider the trade‐offs and synergies between different resource‐use patterns are critical when exploring potential plans for metabolic risk reduction.

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“…Building an incineration plant may be not a feasible option in terms of economic advantages but, at the same time, creating a landfill site may be impossible due to land scarcity, environmental standards or reduction of tourism. Moreover, shipping waste to the mainland may seem like the only feasible option, but this choice can also generate economic and environmental costs ( Chen et al, 2005 ; Mohammadi et al, 2021 ). Tourism is another matter of concern on small islands because it is often the main economic activity ( Eckelman et al., 2014 ) and it causes high variations in resident population ( Wang et al, 2021 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Organic waste valorization in remote islands: Analysis of economic and environmental benefits of onsite treatment options

et al. 2022

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Solid waste management (SWM) represents an important issue for small islands. This research evaluates the municipal SWM system of the Pelagian archipelago, in Italy. The research aims to evaluate environmental and econoemic benefits of onsite treatment plants for the valorization of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste. The sizing of the anaerobic digestion (AD) and composting plant was developed, and the characteristics of the plant were used to conduct a cost analysis and an environmental life cycle assessment. The current waste management system (S0) has been compared with the new strategy proposed (S1). Results showed that S1 leads to save more than 250,000 € y−1 due to the avoidance of organic waste final disposal and shipping, determining a payback time of about 7 years. Environmental benefits include a lowering of CO2-eq emission of more than 1100 tonnes per year and a reduction of all the six environmental impacts analysed. The outcomes represent a novel contribution to the scientific literature since the research provides the first comparison of quantitative data about environmental and cost benefits of onsite AD plants in small islands. The research underlines that onsite waste treatment systems are viable options to improve SWM systems in isolated regions.

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How big is circular economy potential on Caribbean islands considering e-waste?

Cited by 20 publications

References 58 publications

Strategies for Transitioning to Sustainable E-Waste Management Systems Globally, Regionally and Nationally

Strategies for Transitioning to Sustainable E-Waste Management Systems Globally, Regionally and Nationally

Can a small island nation build resilience? The significance of resource‐use patterns and socio‐metabolic risks in The Bahamas

Organic waste valorization in remote islands: Analysis of economic and environmental benefits of onsite treatment options

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