Showing papers on "Extended producer responsibility published in 2015"

Solving spent lithium-ion battery problems in China: Opportunities and challenges

Abstract: Consumer electronics (CE) and electric vehicles (EVs) associated with renewable and sustainable energy have been rapidly changing human lifestyles and transportation habits since 1990s. These active innovations have resulted in a large amount of spent lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) in China. At least two problems are declining the sustainability of production and final disposal of LiBs: one is potential environmental and health risk, and the other is that more and more valuable resources are being stored in spent LiBs without appropriate recycling. We found that a lack of effective regulation, collection systems and recycling technologies are major barriers and challenges to solve the problems. And in order to develop a comprehensive management scheme for this waste stream in China, we proposed a three-pronged approach: (1) new regulation or policy is quite a necessity to deal with the challenges unique to spent LiBs recycling; (2) collection systems for CE and EV batteries can be substantially established based upon past experience of general e-waste management and extended producer responsibility, respectively; and (3) more emphasis needs to be placed on new technology for spent LiBs recycling, to tackle the large quantities of stored spent LiBs.

Waste effectiveness of the construction industry: Understanding the impediments and requisites for improvements

Abstract: Construction industry contributes a large portion of waste to landfill, which in turns results in environmental pollution and CO2 emission. Despite the adoption of several waste management strategies, waste reduction to landfill continues seeming an insurmountable challenge. This paper explores factors impeding the effectiveness of existing waste management strategies, as well as strategies for reducing waste intensiveness of the construction industry. Drawing on series of semi structured focus group discussions with experts from the UK leading construction companies, this paper combines phenomenological approach with a critical review and analysis of extant literatures. Five broad categories of factors and practices are responsible for ineffectiveness of construction and demolition waste management strategies, which subsequently results in waste intensiveness of the industry. These include end of pipe treatment of waste, externality and incompatibility of waste management tools with design tools, atomism of waste management strategies, perceived or unexpected high cost of waste management, and culture of waste behaviour within the industry. To reduce waste intensiveness of the construction industry, the study suggests that six factors are requisites. These are tackling of waste at design stage, whole life waste consideration, compliance of waste management solutions with BIM, cheaper cost of waste management practice, increased stringency of waste management legislation and fiscal policies, and research and enlightenment. The proposed strategies are not only important for achieving low waste construction projects, they are important for reducing waste intensiveness of the construction. Implementation of the suggested measures would drive waste management practices within the construction industry.

Success Stories for Recycling of MSW at Municipal Level: A Review

Abstract: Waste management is increasingly considered one of the most critical environmental challenges on a worldwide basis. Municipal solid waste and packaging waste in specific is an important and growing waste stream. It has been widely recognized that recycling practices and in specific separation at source schemes should be adopted in order to achieve sustainable management of municipal solid waste and efficient resource use. Separation at source provides a promising option with environmental and economic benefits, as it contributes to the recovery of high quality materials with, eventually, cost savings for the waste management authorities. This paper provides a review and evaluation of all instruments, as well as strategies employed in operating waste management schemes at international level. More specifically, nineteen case studies are presented and assessed. Special emphasis was given in those best practice schemes that follow the waste hierarchical approach, namely prevention, preparing for re‐use, recycling, other recovery (e.g. energy recovery), disposal. Additionally, local policies that encourage separate collection at source of at least four waste streams (paper, metal, plastic, glass) were taken under consideration. The factors found to influence recycling performance were the implementation of kerbside waste collection schemes, the provision of economic incentives as well as the use of legal instruments. Furthermore, the level of public awareness and engagement achieved, the population size as well as the duration of the implementation of the scheme were also found to influence the effectiveness of the applied schemes.

Theoretical Framework for Plastic Waste Management in Ghana through Extended Producer Responsibility: Case of Sachet Water Waste

Abstract: Currently, use and disposal of plastic by consumers through waste management activities in Ghana not only creates environmental problems, but also reinforces the notion of a wasteful society. The magnitude of this problem has led to increasing pressure from the public for efficient and practical measures to solve the waste problem. This paper analyses the impact of plastic use and disposal in Ghana. It emphasizes the need for commitment to proper management of the impacts of plastic waste and effective environmental management in the country. Sustainable Solid Waste Management (SSWM) is a critical problem for developing countries with regards to climate change and greenhouse gas emission, and also the general wellbeing of the populace. Key themes of this paper are producer responsibility and management of products at end of life. The paper proposes two theatrical recovery models that can be used to address the issue of sachet waste in Ghana.

A framework for a more efficient approach to food waste management

Abstract: A considerable amount of waste is generated in the food supply chains of both developing and developed countries. In an increasingly resource constrained world, it is imperative to reduce the high environmental, social and economic impacts associated with this type of waste. This necessitates the development and implementation of improved, targeted management practices. This paper discusses the various definitions and categorizations of food waste according to different international organizations, reviews the most up-to-date data on waste generated in the food supply chains as well as its environmental impact and assess the applicability of current waste management options. This analysis provides the basis for the development of a framework for increasing the effectiveness of food waste management practices through structured assessment and better informed selection of waste management methodologies for each food waste category. The usability of this novel framework is discussed.

E-waste flow among selected institutions of higher learning using material flow analysis model

Abstract: Institutions of higher learning (universities) contribute significantly to the rapidly growing threat of e-waste. This research focused mainly on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) e-waste management in selected universities in the Klang Valley of Central Region, Malaysia. ICT equipments (computers, printers, copiers) are the most widely used and frequently replaced electronics in universities and if not soundly managed pose grave environmental hazards because of their components which contain toxic substances. The objective of the article is to analyze e-waste flow among selected institutions of higher learning using material flow analysis model. Material Flow Analysis (MFA) modeling was conducted to investigate e-waste management systems, from asset purchase, use, end-of-life and disposal. Furthermore, MFA also led to better system analysis which contributed to practical recommendations for sustainable e-waste management. STAN (subSTance flow ANalysis) 2.5 software was used to perform the MFA modeling providing graphical models of university e-waste management, data reconciliation, propagation of uncertainty and gross error detection. Findings of the research showed that some universities generated 100 tons of ICT e-waste in 2012 with an estimated market value of RM 0.3 million (US$98.500). The study also found that 7.5 tons of e-waste was discarded into the MSW stream thus contributing to heavy metal contamination in landfill or dump sites. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) options i.e. take-back in university systems were practically nonexistent in these universities.

Past, present and future of waste management in Korea

Abstract: In the history of waste management in Korea, systematic and integrated management started in the middle of the 1980s with the establishment of the Waste Management Law. By enforcing several specialized, discrete acts under this basic law and imposing extended producer responsibility as well as a volume-based garbage rate system based on the concept of polluter payment, waste management has become more effective for both general household waste and industrial hazardous/massive waste. The management mainly involves not only a reduction in waste generation, but also appropriate treatment and maximum recycling of the waste. Recent policy trends have focused on converting wastes into resources, and these have led to the implementation of “waste to energy and resources” and a “sustainable and circulation society” in the present and future plans for waste management. A new law called “Promotion Law for Achieving a Resource Circulation Society” meant to replace the basic law and to create a platform of resource circulation, is currently under review. This law integrates all the existing laws and acts to utilize waste more efficiently as a resource, and it has the potential to significantly reduce the amount of wastes landfilled. Details of the history and background of previous waste management efforts, recent movements and current status, and future pathways for achieving a resource circulation society are introduced. This could promote the establishment of a zero waste society and also extend the life of waste landfill facilities in Korea.

Design Incentives Under Collective Extended Producer Responsibility: A Network Perspective

Abstract: Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation aims to create incentives for producers to design products that are easier to recycle. In this paper, we study whether a collective EPR implementation, which is common in practice due to its cost efficiency advantage, can achieve this goal. In particular, we look for cost allocation mechanisms in a collective system that provide at least as effective design incentives as those induced by an individual system benchmark, while ensuring voluntary participation of producers (i.e. satisfying group incentive compatibility). Based on a biform network game model, we show that a cost allocation mechanism that satisfies the above criteria exists only if the recycling infrastructure satisfies certain properties in terms of (i) how recycling costs change as a function of design choices and (ii) the processing capacity mix relative to the return volume. Otherwise, a cost allocation mechanism that leads to effective design incentives can only guarantee individual rationality but not group incentive compatibility. This indicates a critical tradeoff between producers' design incentives and their voluntary participation in a collective system. That is, participation by enforcement may be required for a policy maker to induce superior designs and maintain a stable collective implementation (and therefore realize its cost efficiency advantage). If this is not feasible, then one needs to accept collective implementations as enablers of cost-efficiency at the expense of inferior design incentives, and find other means (i.e., other forms of regulatory intervention) besides cost allocation to provide design incentives.

Promoting Sustainable Waste Prevention Strategy Activities and Planning in Relation to the Waste Framework Directive in Insular Communities

Abstract: Citizen’s daily activities produce huge quantities of waste affecting the quality of life. On the other hand, citizens are attacked from the media regarding the new products entering the market. Moreover, waste management plans, are sometimes too complex as facilities, like separation and collection, become routine. The production of waste on daily basis is continually increasing; however, the main solution for treatment in insular communities is to send their waste to landfill. According to the Waste Framework Directive (2008/98/EC), prevention is in the top in waste hierarchy. In order to build up our strategy we must first find out what our waste consists of and then develop our waste prevention campaign and strategic plan.

Valuable E-Waste: Implications for Extended Producer Responsibility

Abstract: Product take-back regulation based on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) holds electronics producers responsible for proper recovery, e.g., collection and recycling, of end-of-life products. This is because of the assumption that environmentally friendly treatment of these products has a net cost, hence unless the market is regulated such waste would end up in landfills. However, advances in product design and recycling technologies as well as the increase in the price of precious metals found in certain waste electronics, now allow recyclers to generate a net profit from recycling these products. This change in recycling economics challenges the basic assumption such regulation relies on (i.e., recovery has a net cost), and creates a competitive marketplace for e-waste. That is, electronics producers that are subject to EPR have to compete with independent recyclers (that are not subject to EPR) in collecting and recycling end-of-life products. Consequently, a natural question in this context is whether take-back regulation leads to better environmental or economic outcomes in a competitive market for recyclable electronics. In this paper, we show that stringent take-back regulation that does not count recycling by independent entities toward meeting the targets imposed on producers, may lead to decreased landfill diversion and mute incentives for producers to design for recovery. We identify conditions under which these unintended outcomes may take place and discuss associated policy implications.

A framework for sustainable waste management: challenges and opportunities

Abstract: Purpose – This purpose of this paper is concerned with the issue of designing and operating a sustainable waste management system, in rapidly growing urban areas. Some existing models for waste management and the extent to which they could be applied in a specific environment – Cairo for example – are discussed. An integrated framework which can serve as a basis for the development of a sustainable waste management system is proposed. Sustainability of the system, opportunities and challenges, material re-use and recycling, composting, incineration and energy production and land-filling are examined. Relevant waste management and cost sub-models inherent to the system are discussed. In addition, some other environmental and social aspects are also debated. The main focus of this paper is to provide some insights into the design of a more effective and integrated sustainable waste management system applicable for developing economies. Design/methodology/approach – An in-depth analysis is carried out for th...

Re-making spaces of conversion: deconstructing discourses of e-waste recycling in China

Abstract: China implemented its e-waste policy in 2012, declaring adherence to the principle of Extended Producer Responsibility. Public planning, policies and demonstration projects for recycling facilities have been promoted widely at city and provincial levels to rebuild the image of e-waste management in China. This article traces the evolution of e-waste recycling practices in China, from imported e-waste recycling clusters in coastal rural areas and e-waste disassembly and trading bazaars in suburban areas of big cities to certified e-waste recyclers subsidised by the government, as well as the waste reduction and recycling efforts of electronics producers. We draw out the logic underpinning the planning of large-scale collection and sorting centres – armed with automated equipment – to replace the labour-intensive sorting activities prevalent in the waste villages. By deconstructing and analysing the discourses of e-waste recycling, which discriminate recycling practices into formal and informal categories, we point out the limits of formalisation, which favours short and standard shredding for material recovery instead of reuse.

What Roles for Which Stakeholders under Extended Producer Responsibility

Abstract: This article analyzes extended producer responsibility (EPR), two decades after the concept emerged. It concentrates on the scope of the producers' responsibility vis-a-vis other stakeholders in the context of EPR for waste electronics. It argues that in order for a core aspect of EPR – the creation of design incentives – to function properly the responsibilities need to be shared between the producers and other stakeholders, and that the allocation of responsibilities needs to be both more rigorous and more nuanced than is presently the case. The article structures the discussion on, and presents solutions to, the proper allocation of responsibilities by creating a framework that distinguishes between issues relating to the core premises of EPR, those that are a function of the multilevel system of governance in which EPR is pursued, and those that are of a practical nature, cutting across jurisdictional levels.

Recycling of ICT Equipment in Industrialized and Developing Countries

Abstract: The increasing penetration of society with Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) is resulting in growing waste volumes Typical of this waste is the combination of its intrinsic value due to the high content of basic and precious metals with health and environmental hazards caused by the occurrence of toxic substances in combination with inadequate recycling practices Based on the principle of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), industrialized countries have legislated WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) management As a consequence, producers established take-back schemes In developing countries, the absence of a legal framework and formal recycling infrastructure as well as the presence of the self-organized informal sector has complicated similar efforts In some countries, progress could be achieved through the promulgation of a legal framework and the establishment of basic recycling infrastructure The environmental and social aspects associated with the improper recycling of WEEE and the sustainable reintegration of secondary resources demands strong efforts from industry, government, and civil society

Extended Producer Responsibility and the Evolution of Sustainable Specializations: Evidences From the e-Waste Sector

Abstract: Extended producer responsibility (EPR) is an environmental policy approach that could potentially have a positive impact on different determinants of the business environment, including scientific production. Despite that, direct and indirect impacts on those national research environments where EPR is not directly implemented are under-represented in the current literature. Based on a dataset of 411 papers related to e-waste published in the period between 2001 and 2011, our study explores the research dynamics of the e-waste literature and presents a map of the main areas of interest. Two representations of the geographical time frames of research depict the on-going reshaping of worldwide technical specializations and inform policy makers on the evolution of regional needs and competences. The conclusions highlight the importance of worldwide impact assessments of EPR in order to achieve both industrial and environmental goals. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.

Design Incentives Under Collective Extended Producer Responsibility: A Network Perspective

Abstract: Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation aims to create incentives for producers to design products that are easier to recycle. In this paper, we study whether a collective EPR implementation, which is common in practice due to its cost efficiency advantage, can achieve this goal. In particular, we look for cost allocation mechanisms in a collective system that provide at least as effective design incentives as those induced by an individual system benchmark, while ensuring voluntary participation of producers (i.e. satisfying group incentive compatibility). Based on a biform network game model, we show that a cost allocation mechanism that satisfies the above criteria exists only if the recycling infrastructure satisfies certain properties in terms of (i) how recycling costs change as a function of design choices and (ii) the processing capacity mix relative to the return volume. Otherwise, a cost allocation mechanism that leads to effective design incentives can only guarantee individual rationality but not group incentive compatibility. This indicates a critical tradeoff between producers' design incentives and their voluntary participation in a collective system. That is, participation by enforcement may be required for a policy maker to induce superior designs and maintain a stable collective implementation (and therefore realize its cost efficiency advantage). If this is not feasible, then one needs to accept collective implementations as enablers of cost-efficiency at the expense of inferior design incentives, and find other means (i.e., other forms of regulatory intervention) besides cost allocation to provide design incentives.