ABSTRACT

The landscape of electronic waste, e-waste, management is changing dramatically. Besides a rapidly increasing world population, globalization is driving the demand for products, resulting in rising prices for many materials. Absolute scarcity looms for some special resources such as indium. Used electronic products and recyclable materials are increasingly crisscrossing the globe. This is creating both - opportunities and challenges for e-waste management.

This focuses on the current and future trends, technologies and regulations for reusable and recyclable e-waste worldwide. It compares international e-waste management perspectives and regulations under a view that includes the environmental, social and economic aspects of the different linked systems. It overviews the current macro-economic trends from material demand to international policy to waste scavenging, examines particular materials and product streams in detail and explores the future for e-waste and its’ management considering technology progress, improving end-of-lifecycle designs, policy and sustainability perspectives. To achieve this, the volume has been divided in twelve chapters that cover three major themes:

  • holistic view of the global e-waste situation
  • current reserve supply chain and management of used electronics, including flows, solutions, policies and regulations
  • future perspectives and solutions for a sustainable e-waste management.

The emphasis of the book is mainly on the dramatic change of the entire e-waste sector from the cheapest way of getting rid of e-waste in an environmental sound way to how e-waste can help to reduce excavation of new substances and lead to a sustainable economy.

It is an ideal resource for policy-makers, waste managers and researchers involved in the design and implementation of e-waste.

chapter |3 pages

Introduction

chapter 1|19 pages

Electronic Waste

Environment and Society

chapter 3|29 pages

Recycling of Technology Metals

A Holistic System Approach

chapter 5|23 pages

Closing the Plastic Loop

Turning the Supply Chain into a Supply Cycle by Mining Plastics from End-of-Life Electronics and other Durable Goods

chapter 6|21 pages

Evaluating the Performance of Recycling Systems

Examples from North American and European Electronics Recycling Systems

chapter 8|24 pages

Controlling Trade in Electronic Waste

An Analysis of International Agreements and National Trade Policies in Asia

chapter 10|27 pages

Reuse

A Bridge from Unsustainable E-Waste to Sustainable E-Resources

chapter 11|14 pages

Electronics Industry Competes for Raw Materials

Will the Scarcity of Natural Resources Become a Showstopper for the Information and Communications Industry?