Showing papers on "Extended producer responsibility published in 2007"

Present status of the recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment in Korea

Abstract: In Korea due to rapid economical growth followed by urbanisation, breakage of large traditional families into small nuclear families, continuous changes in equipment features and capabilities causes tremendous increase in sale of new electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) and decrease in sale of used EEE. Subsequently, the ever-increasing quantity of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) has become a serious social problem and threat to the environment. Therefore, the gradual increase in the generation of WEEE intensifies the interest for recycling to conserve the resources and protect the environment. In view of the above, a review has been made related to the present status of the recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment in Korea. This paper describes the present status of generation and recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment, namely TVs, refrigerators, washing machines, air conditioners, personal computers and mobile phones in Korea. The commercial processes and the status of developing new technologies for the recycling of metallic values from waste printed circuit boards (PCBs) is also described briefly. Since 1998, three recycling centers are in full operation to recycle WEEE such as refrigerators, washing machines and air conditioners, having the total capacity of 880,000 units/year. All waste TVs are recently recycled on commission basis by several private recycling plants. The recycling of waste personal computers and mobile phones is insignificant in comparison with the amount of estimated obsolete those. Korea has adopted and enforced the extended producer responsibility (EPR) system. Korea is making consistent efforts to improve the recycling rate to the standards indicated in the EU directives for WEEE. Especially environmentally friendly and energy-saving technologies are being developed to recycle metal values from PCBs of WEEE.

Strategic, Financial, and Design Implications of Extended Producer Responsibility in Europe: A Producer Case Study

Abstract: Extended producer responsibility (EPR) legislation, making producers responsible for financing and organizing take-back and recycling of waste batteries, packaging, end-of-life vehicles (ELVs), and waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), has been or is currently in the process of being implemented in 29 different countries in Europe following introduction of European Union directives. This article reviews the potential impacts of EPR for waste batteries, packaging, and WEEE on producers distributing products in Europe through a case study of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE)—responsible for marketing and distribution of PlayStation products. There are presently more than 250 producer responsibility organizations (PROs) established to meet EPR obligations in Europe, which contrasts to the single national recycling schemes founded in the late 1990s. SCEE estimates it avoided a net cost of €408,000 in 2005 by introducing competitive review of PRO services (against a total net take-back cost of €401,000). To meet increasingly extensive compliance obligations, SCEE has initiated new activities, with considerable implications for the company's legal, sales data administration, procurement, accounting, and product and packaging approval practices. Considering the ultimate aim of EPR to establish economic incentives for improved product design, several significant political and practical obstacles are described from SCEE's case and industry situation. Although the principle of EPR is indeed interesting, its practical application in Europe may require refinement. Producers, given adequate support by policy makers, still have opportunities to develop new processes under the WEEE Directive to facilitate design for the environment.

A life cycle based multi-objective optimization model for the management of computer waste

Abstract: The accelerating pace of waste generation from used electrical and electronic equipment is of growing global concern. Within this waste stream, computer hardware is quite significant in terms of both volume and risk to the environment because of the hazardous materials within it. The waste management hierarchy of prevention, reuse, recycle, treatment and disposal in landfill is accepted as a universal guideline for waste management. The contemporary concept of integrated solid waste management is very complex comprising of not only the environmental aspects or the technical aspects of the waste management hierarchy, but also incorporating economic, institutional, perceived risk and social issues in the context of complete life cycle of waste. Moreover, when to shift from one stage of hierarchy to another, is an involved decision warranting inclusion of several case specific issues. This paper presents a life cycle based multi-objective model that can help decision makers in integrated waste management. The proposed model has been applied to a case study of computer waste scenario in Delhi, India, which apart from having computer waste from its native population receives large quantities of imported second hand computers. The model has been used to evaluate management cost and reuse time span or life cycle of various streams of computer waste for different objectives of economy, perceived risk and environmental impact. The model results for different scenarios of waste generation have been analyzed to understand the tradeoffs between cost, perceived risk and environmental impact. The optimum life cycle of a computer desktop was observed to be shorter by 25% while optimizing cost than while optimizing impact to the environment or risk perceived by public. Proposed integrated approach can be useful for determining the optimum life cycle of computer waste, as well as optimum configuration of waste management facilities, for urban centers where computer waste related issues are of growing concern.

Sustainable Management of Electronic Waste (e-Waste)

Abstract: Electronic waste or e-waste is one of the fastest growing areas of the international waste stream and is increasing at a much higher rate than all other waste streams. Fast growing electronics industries arising from the demands of information and communication technologies around the world coupled with the rapid product obsolescence and lack of end-of-life management options, have all led to the unsustainable management of the waste stream. Computers are manufactured from over 1,000 materials, many of which are toxic, and they contribute significantly to the e-waste stream, which is estimated to be ca. 20 to 50 million tonnes annually. Design for environment cleaner production, extended producer responsibility, standards and labeling, product stewardship, recycling and remanufacturing are some of the practices adopted by various countries around the world to deal with the e-waste stream. An overview of these practices is presented and the manner in which they contribute to the sustainable management of e-waste is discussed.

California households' willingness to pay for ‘green’ electronics

Abstract: Concerns about rapid increases in the volume of electronic waste (e-waste) and its potential toxicity have sharpened policy makers' interest for extended producer responsibility to encourage manufacturers of consumer electronic devices (CEDs) to ‘design for the environment’. This paper examines consumer willingness to pay for ‘green’ electronics based on a 2004 mail survey of California households. Using ordered logit models, it was found that significant predictors of willingness to pay for ‘greener’ computers and cell phones include age, income, education, beliefs about the role of government for improving environmental quality, as well as environmental attitudes and behaviors, but neither gender nor political affiliation. Although most respondents are willing to pay only a 1% premium for ‘greener’ CEDs, innovation and EU directives may soon make them competitive with conventional CEDs.

Assessing extended producer responsibility laws in Japan.

Abstract: Take-back legislation provides an incentive for producers to incorporate environmental considerations into product design and to shift the responsibility for end-of-life products away from municipalities.

International aspects of recycling of electrical and electronic equipment: Material circulation in the East Asian region

Abstract: This article examines the present circumstances of recycling of end-of-life electrical and electronic equipment discarded in Japan from the domestic and international viewpoints of material circulation. It is pointed out that some of the discarded items are absorbed into an invisible flow by informal economic activities, being exported in the form of secondhand equipment and secondary materials. Since the equipment has a pollution potential as well as a resource potential, it is anticipated that the pollution potential may possibly be realized if the equipment is mishandled at recycling plants in developing countries. To reduce the invisible flow as much as possible and to reduce the pollution potential from diffusion in developing countries, a policy tool such as extended producer responsibility should be applied to retailers of the equipment, as well as to producers.

Tourism and Waste Management: A Review of Implementation of “Zero Waste” at Kovalam

Abstract: According to the latest concepts, waste is a visible face of inefficiency in terms of material utilization. Waste handling is a major concern, especially since improper waste treatment causes increased environmental deterioration. The last few decades have seen the emergence of new measures to handle waste effectively, but most of them are not flawless. “Zero waste”, an innovation of the 1990s in waste handling, emphasizes planning for the elimination of waste rather than managing waste (Sheehan, 2000, cited in Connett & Connett, 2000, Waste Not, #463, http://www.grrn.org/zerowaste/articles/21st_cent_vision_zw.html, section 3). The growth of tourism as one of the largest industries in the world calls for effective waste management measures. Kovalam, an international beach destination situated in the southwestern corner of India, has been experiencing intensive tourism activities since the 1960s. Zero waste was introduced experimentally by “Thanal”, a voluntary organization based at Thriruvanthapuram at th...

The Swedish producer responsibility for paper packaging : An effective waste management policy?

Abstract: The main purpose of this study is to analyze the incentive structure and the effectiveness of the Swedish producer responsibility ordinance, i.e., the ability of the system to induce producers to economize with cardboard packaging and to fulfill the related environmental goals cost effectively. A secondary purpose is to discuss if the empirical evidence in any way suggests that an alternative supply chain management regime, i.e., the UCTS-system, could be more effective. According to the results, both the Swedish producer responsibility scheme and the UCTS system fulfill two important cost effectiveness criteria. The packaging fee in the present Swedish system and the packaging tax in the UCTS system provide similar incentives to an output effect. Furthermore, both systems also give rise to input substitution effects. For instance, both systems encourage the use of secondary materials at the expense of virgin materials by subsidizing collection and recycling activities. However, in the Swedish producer responsibility system, waste collection entrepreneurs in areas with high marginal costs of collection also often obtain high refunds. This implies a violation of the cost effectiveness principle. Neither of the systems tends to encourage enough of design for recyclability, but here the Swedish producer responsibility seems to be somewhat more effective than the UCTS system. Our analysis of the transformation and transaction costs involved in the two waste management systems suggests that it is hard to a priori determine which system will minimize waste management costs. It will depend on, for instance, households’ valuation of sorting efforts, and the presence of economies of scale in the waste collection system. This implies that different systems can be preferred in different parts of the country.

Extended Producer Responsibility in a Non-OECD Context: The management of waste electrical and electronic equipment in India

Abstract: Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) has caused concern from many sectors of society due to its growing quantity and potential toxicity. The situation is particularly worrisome in some non-OECD countries, such as India and China, where acute health and environmental hazards have resulted from a combination of a lack of proper WEEE management systems and the domination of a large backyard recycling sector. This study explores the feasibility of dealing with such problems in a non-OECD context by applying extended producer responsibility (EPR), an environmental policy principle that has been applied to the management of WEEE in many OECD countries. Using India as a case study, this investigation identifies two main obstacles in the Indian context that can undermine the EPR mechanisms: large grey markets for some electronic products, and illegal imports of WEEE. Although an EPR programme might not be able to address the two problems on its own, there are measures that can curb the scale of these two illegal activities. More importantly, this analysis of the current situation in India suggests that a timely national programme based on the EPR principle can be a driving force for the formalisation of the downstream sector and strengthen the existing industrial initiatives such as voluntary take-back schemes.

Leasing and extended producer responsibility for personal computer component reuse

Abstract: Although extended producer responsibility legislation creates economic incentives for manufacturers to recycle or remanufacture product components, this has proven to be very difficult Leasing arrangements where the manufacturer sells a service rather than a product might facilitate more cost-effective product take-back This paper presents a mathematical model for product design that considers leasing programs and their impact on cost, reliability and environmental impact The optimal combination of new, recycled and remanufactured components over several product lifecycles is determined by maximising a multiattribute utility function for a portfolio of customer market segments

Extended Producer Responsibility in the Aviation Sector

Abstract: In this paper we investigate recent initiatives with respect to extended producer responsibility in the aviation sector. We compare those with the existing practices in the automobile sector and the emerging regulations in the shipping sector. We describe the challenges and the lessons to be learned from the evolution and state of extended producer responsibility in these two industries.

Extended producer responsibility in oligopoly

Abstract: I investigate the optimal environmental tax under a policy based on extended producer responsibility (EPR) in oligopoly markets. I introduce the recycling market and explicitly consider how these policies affect the incentive for recycling. I derive the optimal tax rule, which depends on the weighted sum of the markup in the product market and the markdown in the recycling market. In contrast to the existing works that emphasize that the optimal tax rate is lower than the marginal external damage, I find that the optimal tax rate can be higher than the marginal external damage.

Current Practice and Future Sustainability

Abstract: This chapter covers the common waste management procedures currently practiced worldwide and discusses their impacts on future sustainability and conservation of natural resources. The life cycle of waste in these procedures is analyzed to demonstrate that it follows a “cradle-to-grave” approach. Subsequently, the “cradle-to-cradle” concepts are discussed in detail with a listing of their pros and cons. The role of the government and civil society in effecting these “cradle-to-cradle” concepts is explained for the conservation of natural resources by using the principle of extended producer responsibilities. Sustainable development promotes economic growth given that this growth does not compromise the management of the environmental resources. The traditional approach for clinical waste, agricultural waste, industrial and municipal solid waste, industrial and municipal liquid waste, etc. can be considered disastrous worldwide because it is depleting the natural resources and may pollute the environment if it is not treated/disposed of properly. Any solution should suit not only the developed countries but also the developing countries, including the economical benefits, technological availability, environmental and social perspectives; otherwise they will never be sustainable. This chapter introduces a new term in environmental engineering—that is, “sustainable treatment,” as well as a new hierarchy for waste management, which applies “cradle-to-cradle” concepts.

Extended Producer Responsibility in the Aviation Sector

Abstract: textIn this paper we investigate recent initiatives with respect to extended producer responsibility in the aviation sector. We compare those with the existing practices in the automobile sector and the emerging regulations in the shipping sector. We describe the challenges and the lessons to be learned from the evolution and state of extended producer responsibility in these two industries.

Managing Extended Producer Responsibility using PLM Part 1: Ensuring Compliance in Early Design Stages

Abstract: Concerns about the environmental impacts of used and discarded products have recently led to enactment of laws that regulate the amounts of hazardous substances and recyclable content in products. The laws also make the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) responsible for recovery and proper treatment of these end-of-life products. In this two part paper, we present methodologies for OEMs to use the PLM framework to effectively meet the challenges posed by these regulations. In this first part, we provide a methodology to proactively select material and processing specifications in early design stages, so as to ensure compliance. The methodology uses of chance constrained programming to account for uncertainty. We also discuss the scope and limitations of the approach. In Part 2 of this paper, we will present a methodology for case-by-case selection of the treatment strategy for incoming end-of-life products.

Recent Developments in Plastic-Plastic Separation Techniques

Abstract: Plastic supply and recycling are increasingly becoming matters of social concern. In our country, Extended Producer Responsibility(EPR) system has been adopted in 2003 to expand recycle and reuse of waste resources at producer side, and due to expansion of the EPR system, amount of the mixed plastic waste generation has been drastically increased. Plastic-plastic separation is most fundamental technique to achieve effective plastic recycling. This paper reviews recent developments in plastic-plastic separation techniques and describe future tasks. The mechanisms of each separation which contain gravity separation, electrostatic separation, flotation, and separation of automotive shredder residue are described, and commercial scale and lab-scale results are introduced.

Strategies for Choice of EPR-Oriented Government and Production Enterprises' Behaviors Using Game Analysis

Abstract: The roles of government and core enterprises were focused.A static and dynamic extended producer responsibility(EPR) game model with complete information was developed.The impacts of each factor in the model and the combinations of optional strategies under different scenarios were analyzed comparably. Key factors influencing ERP were explored.Some measures and suggestions for effectively carrying out ERP in China are also proposed.

Architectural Framework about Recycle of Waste Automobile

Abstract: Currently, return and reuse of waste automobiles is paid attention more by more, which lies in the Extended producer responsibility(EPR)forced to implement in automobile industry and rich profit in reproducing course. However, the method on return and reuse of waste automobile is relatively backward in our country, just mainly focuses on material reuse. In order to realize higher level reuse, this paper presents an architectural framework about recycle of waste automobile in which automobile producer is the locomotive and multi-functional recycle center is the kernel process unit.