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Electronic Waste Generation and Management in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region: Algeria as a Case Study
Abstract
Electronic waste (e-waste) is one of the fastest growing waste streams in the world. Notwithstanding increasing concern worldwide, e-waste has not yet been discussed in depth in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. This study first reviews the literature regarding the estimation of e-waste in the MENA region. It then gives an estimate of the past and future trends in the generation of obsolete computers in Algeria. For this purpose, the study combines two models: the Carnegie Mellon model and the market supply (distribution delay) model. The Carnegie Mellon model offers the following options for obsolete computers and monitors: the device could be reused, stored, or discarded. The amounts of devices falling into each category were determined based on these options. The outcomes from the market supply (distribution delay) model show that high amounts of computer and monitor waste were registered for the period from 2014 to 2016.
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment or e-waste is a waste stream that has multiplied profoundly in recent years. Currently, many researchers focused on the study of e-waste. The Middle East & North Africa (MENA) is a region with similar geographical features, has a high young population, and is economically diverse. The area has seen unprecedented population growth in the last 50 years. This paper presents a review of the reported works in the field of e-waste in the MENA region. It aims to shed light on the various aspects of e-waste in the MENA region. The various methods of estimating the quantities of e-waste, how it is presently managed in the MENA, the impacts of e-waste, and the regulations compliant with MENA are covered in the review. The e-waste stream is beginning to attract attention in certain countries of the MENA in recent years. As a step to this, there are various mathematical models developed to estimate the quantity of e-waste effectively. The prime component of e-waste is mobile phones, which have penetrated very deeply into all regions of the world. The health hazards caused by e-waste stem primarily from heavy metals and halogenated plastics in them. The review found that the health impacts caused by informal e-waste handling in MENA countries are not given due attention and are not covered in the literature. Regarding the regulations on e-waste disposal, countries need to implement these regulations to control e-waste penetration effectively.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is one of the high-income countries in the Middle Eastern region and is vying for sustainable development in every sector. One of the UAE sustainable development goals is to ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns; hence, the emphasis is on circular economy. UAE is one of largest consumers of e-devices, and their proper disposal is of paramount importance. E-waste disposal awareness leads to better disposal behaviors. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to understand the e-device purchase and disposal behaviour among university communities in the UAE. A survey was conducted among the students and staff members of a federally funded university in the UAE, namely Zayed University, and quantitative methodology was adopted to analyze the collected data. The study found that 47.95% of respondents purchased mobile phones, and 65% of the respondents purchased 1–3 electronic devices every year. Through chi-square test, gender of the respondents was found to be related with e-device ownership. Through the analysis of variance (ANOVA), age and field of specialization were found to affect the knowledge about e-waste. Older and the respondents with science specialization were more aware about e-waste. Most of the respondents disposed e-devices, such as batteries, earphones/headphones, and electronic toys, along with the household trash. A very small percentage of respondents disposed e-devices such as laptops, phones, and tablets with the household trash. Mostly, these were either repaired, donated, or sold to second-hand users. Many respondents were neither aware of the government initiatives on e-waste collection nor participated in government-sponsored e-waste recycling. The study further identified that 67% of the respondents were aware of the toxicity of e-waste, and 61% of the respondents were keen to join e-waste recycling drives at university. The findings of the study imply that the policy makers need to incentivize e-waste-disposal systems and develop targeted awareness approaches to enhance e-waste disposal in the UAE.
The generation of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) has become a globally serious problem. Its adequate management has great importance for governments and organizations alike. Despite the available literature on models for estimating WEEE generation, such analysis and forecasting are scarce in the context of big organizations. The objective of this research is to estimate WEEE generation in organizations using the Market Supply model applied to a Brazilian federal agency. The agency's Asset Control System was the data source. These records allow organizations to effectively manage their WEEE, influencing the quality of generation estimate. A statistical analysis was carried to calculate the lifespan of the equipment in the system, observing a reduction in the lifespan of the most modern items. The model allows for estimating WEEE generation for the coming years in organizations, whilst providing lifespan profiles, meaning the probabilistic obsolescence rate of appliances. The results obtained, including the statistical analyses and the used methodology represent a valuable resource to organizations as a means to inform their decision-making process regarding the management of WEEE.
This study presents two environmental frameworks based on Twitter and the big data analytics approach. This research aims to provide novel frameworks for the use of environmental decision makers, practitioners, and scholars to enhance environmental management and sustainability performance. An example of framework utilization is supplied with a case study of the hashtag #CleanerProduction.
This monitor aims to present the first comprehensive assessment of e-waste volumes, their
corresponding impacts and management status on a global scale. This is measured using an
internationally-adopted measuring framework that has been developed by the Partnership on
Measuring ICT for Development (Baldé et al., 2015). The methodology calculates the amount
of e-waste generated from harmonised modelling steps and data sources. The outcomes show
an unprecedented level of accuracy and harmonisation across countries and are very useful
for international benchmarking. It is estimated that the total amount e-waste generated in
2014 was 41.8 million metric tonnes (Mt). It is forecasted to increase to 50 Mt of e-waste in
2018. This e-waste is comprised of 1.0 Mt of lamps, 6.3 Mt of screens, 3.0 Mt of small IT (such
as mobile phones, pocket calculators, personal computers, printers, etc.), 12.8 Mt of small
equipment (such as vacuum cleaners, microwaves, toasters, electric shavers, video cameras,
etc.), 11.8 Mt of large equipment (such as washing machines, clothes dryers, dishwashers,
electric stoves, photovoltaic panels, etc.) and 7.0 Mt of cooling and freezing equipment
(temperature exchange equipment).
Electronic waste is recently perceived as a problem confined to Jordan. The necessary regulations regarding the E-Waste are not yet in place. The principal aim of this study was to examine the public responses and level of awareness of E-waste among residential. Structured questionnaire survey was designed and demographically distributed to a random sample of households. The results were statistically analyzed and examined to represent the public responses and knowledge concerning the E-waste status. The research findings showed that a significant percentage of the responding sample have poor awareness and knowledge about the E-waste. However, more than 50% of the responding sample were aware about the importance of recovering of E-waste precious components. The fate of the E-waste based on the consumer behavior was investigated and the results showed potential change in E-waste generation if any cost-effective management policy is imposed. Mainly, since the prevailing public opinion (more than 90%) showed enthusiastic willingness for managing the E-waste. While, the percentages of responses of people who are willing-to-pay to manage the E-waste is relatively low, but it increases with the household income. The prevalent opinion was that the recycling companies and electronics producers/traders must be financially responsible for E-waste management program.
Waste generated from electric and electronic equipment (WEEE) is increasing due to the demand for information and communication technologies (ICT), rapid product obsolescence, coupled with rapid economic growth, urbanisation and technology advancement. Developed countries have reacted actively to manage this waste, while developing countries are still in the early stages of recognising this problem. This paper gauges Jordanian household WEEE awareness levels, their electric and electronic equipment (EEE) consumption patterns, and estimates the lifetime of EEE using questionnaire and interview methods. Based on these findings, the WEEE generation rate in Jordan is predicted.
Electronic waste, or e-waste, is an emerging problem as well as a business opportunity of increasing significance, given the volumes of e-waste being generated and the content of both toxic and valuable materials in them. The fraction including iron, copper, aluminium, gold and other metals in e-waste is over 60%, while pollutants comprise 2.70%. Given the high toxicity of these pollutants especially when burned or recycled in uncontrolled environments, the Basel Convention has identified e-waste as hazardous, and developed a framework for controls on transboundary movement of such waste. The Basel Ban, an amendment to the Basel Convention that has not yet come into force, would go one step further by prohibiting the export of e-waste from developed to industrializing countries.
E-waste comprises discarded electronic appliances, of which computers and mobile telephones are disproportionately abundant because of their short lifespan. The current global production of E-waste is estimated to be 20–25 million tonnes per year, with most E-waste being produced in Europe, the United States and Australasia. China, Eastern Europe and Latin America will become major E-waste producers in the next ten years. Miniaturisation and the development of more efficient cloud computing networks, where computing services are delivered over the internet from remote locations, may offset the increase in E-waste production from global economic growth and the development of pervasive new technologies. E-waste contains valuable metals (Cu, platinum group) as well as potential environmental contaminants, especially Pb, Sb, Hg, Cd, Ni, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Burning E-waste may generate dioxins, furans, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons (PHAHs), and hydrogen chloride. The chemical composition of E-waste changes with the development of new technologies and pressure from environmental organisations on electronics companies to find alternatives to environmentally damaging materials. Most E-waste is disposed in landfills. Effective reprocessing technology, which recovers the valuable materials with minimal environmental impact, is expensive. Consequently, although illegal under the Basel Convention, rich countries export an unknown quantity of E-waste to poor countries, where recycling techniques include burning and dissolution in strong acids with few measures to protect human health and the environment. Such reprocessing initially results in extreme localised contamination followed by migration of the contaminants into receiving waters and food chains. E-waste workers suffer negative health effects through skin contact and inhalation, while the wider community are exposed to the contaminants through smoke, dust, drinking water and food. There is evidence that E-waste associated contaminants may be present in some agricultural or manufactured products for export.
Quantities of end-of-life electronics (or e-waste) around the world keep growing. More than 1.36 million metric tons of e-waste were discarded, mainly in landfills, in the U.S. in 2005, and e-waste is projected to grow in the next few years. This paper explores issues relating to planning future e-waste regulation and management systems in the U.S. It begins by reviewing the existing U.S. recycling systems in the U.S. to establish the importance of developing public responses. Other countries and regions around the world have already legislated and implemented electronic takeback and recycling systems. To establish the context of existing experience, e-waste management systems in the European Union, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan are explored. The paper then discusses what specific conditions are expected to influence the acceptability and implementation in the U.S. A key consideration is the cultural imperative in the U.S. for market-driven solutions that enable competition. Given this context, a solution is proposed that is designed to ensure a proper end-of-life option while at the same time establishing a competitive market for reuse and recycling services. The solution, termed e-Market for Returned Deposit, begins with a deposit paid by consumers to sellers at the time of purchase, electronically registered and tracked via a radio-frequency identification device (RFID) placed on the product. At end-of-life, consumers consult an Internet-enabled market in which firms compete to receive the deposit by offering consumers variable degrees of return on the deposit. After collection of the computer by the selected firm, the cyberinfrastructure utilizes the RFID to transfer the deposit to the winning firm when recycled. If the firm chooses to refurbish or resell the computer in lieu of recycling, the transfer is deferred until true end-of-life processing. Finally the paper discusses the domestic and international consequences of the implementation of the proposed design.
The objectives of the present study are to estimate future quantities of electronic waste (e-waste) for which appropriate infrastructure needs to be established, and to the estimate the total cost for e-waste recycling in California. Estimation of the future amounts of e-waste as a function of time is critical to effective e-waste management. To generate estimates, we use a time-series materials flow analysis model (MFAM). The model estimates future e-waste quantities by modeling the stages of production, usage, and disposal. We consider four scenarios for the estimation of future e-waste generation in order to consider the effects of exportation outside the State of California and of user preferences to store or to recycle the e-waste. These efforts were further investigated through the use of sensitivity analysis. The results of the present research indicate that the outflow (recycling) amount of central processing units (CPUs) will increase and will reach approximately 8.5 million units per year in 2013, but the outflow (recycling) of cathode ray tube (CRT) monitors will decrease from 2004 in California because of the replacement of CRT monitors by liquid crystal display (LCD) monitors. In 2013, the cost for CPU recycling will be 1.7 times higher than that in 2005. But for CRT monitors, the cost for recycling in 2013 will be negligible. After the State of California enacted the ban on landfill disposal of e-waste, recycling became the most common end-of-life (EOL) option in California. Also, after 2005, the State of California will need more than 60 average-capacity materials recovery facilities (MRFs), to recycle the number of personal computer systems generated, which represents an investment in capital of over 16 million dollars.
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