ABSTRACT
The industrial revolution followed by the digitalization of the world has changed the lifestyle of human beings drastically. The consistently growing stream of discarded digital devices and electrical appliances opens an opportunity to dig for the material from this waste of electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE or e-waste). The recovery of precious metals and rare earth elements (REEs) from e-waste is crucial considering the value associated with metals and the scarce availability of REEs. In this chapter, insight is provided into e-waste to be a potential mining source for precious metals and REEs toward establishing circularity in the supply chain. An overview of the technologies for extracting metals and REEs is discussed followed by the environmental and economic assessment of these technologies. Pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical routes for recovery can provide efficient yield, though they have been associated with negative environmental impacts. Alternatively, electrochemical and biological processes are being given more attention as prospective sustainable routes to metal recovery. Diligent use of life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle costing (LCC) tools is suggested to perform a sustainability assessment of extraction technologies. A brief discussion is presented on the policies and status of e-waste management around the globe. The practice of dumping discarded e-waste from developed nations to developing nations explains the global exigency of effective technologies and management strategies. Effective e-waste management requires collaborative efforts, a shift in government attitudes, proper legislation, control of dumping, appreciation of extended producer responsibility (EPR), and technology transfer between countries. Managerial elements of e-waste end-of-life (EoL) disposal, for example, developing robust collection infrastructure and public awareness have to go hand in hand with advancements in materials recovery technology and sustainable product design. A holistic approach is required to deal with e-waste as it is a crucial sector from a global perspective, and can play a pivotal role in socioeconomic and environmental paradigms.
