Configuration of recycling networks for enhanced WEEE recycling

Abstract

Due to product heterogeneity and complexity disassembly of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) is seldom supported by systematic planning methods. In particular, uncertainties owing to almost unpredictable quantities and types of returned, products hamper anticipatory disassembly planning, which is mandatory to ensure efficient recycling. This paper introduces an integrated approach focussing on both intra-plant and inter-plant level optimization, underlying that efficient disassembly is hardly possible without considering both levels, as disassembly companies being dependent on properties and allocation of WEEE streams. To control the complexity of parameters on intra-plant and inter-plant level, and their impact on disassembly systems, a multi-level simulation approach is applied. Thus, scenarios can be simulated taking into account both levels in an integrative manner, enabling to derive strategies to react on different situations characterized by varying impact parameters. The depicted simulation approach may allow companies involved in dismantling and recycling of WEEE to optimize their disassembly processes by adapting them to both internal and external parameters. In addition, an overall optimum can be derived for complete recycling networks.