Sustainability Assessment of Reuse and Recycling Management Options for End-of-Life Computers-Korean and Japanese Case Study Analysis

Jaeho Han,Shuho Yamada,Yuki Kinoshita,Tetsuo Yamada,Hiromasa Ijuin,Masato Inoue

doi:10.3390/recycling6030055

Jaeho Han, Shuho Yamada + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/recycling6030055

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Abstract

The depletion of natural resources and global warming have increased in severity globally. In the industrial field, assembly products, such as electronic products, should be disassembled for recycling and reuse to deal with these problems. Reuse and recycling can contribute to reducing GreenHouse Gas (GHG) emissions and less depletion of natural resources since GHG emissions for virgin material production can be saved using reused components and recycled materials. However, each component of selling revenue and material-based GHG emissions depends on the country because of the different energy mixes of electrical power. Moreover, each collected component embedded in End-of-Life (EOL) products needs to be selected as a life cycle option based on its remaining life. The purpose of this study is to decide life cycle options such as reuse, recycling, and disposal of each component environmentally-friendly and economically in Korea and Japanese cases for computers. Firstly, selecting the life cycle option for each component was formulated by 0–1 integer programming with ε constraints. Next, GHG emissions, profits, and costs in Korea and Japan were estimated and analyzed for each component. Finally, Korean and Japanese cases were analyzed to obtain an economic value in the same material-based GHG saving rate with each component’s life cycle option selection by comparing each EOL product data. In the experiments, GHG recovery efficiency was higher in Japan 43 [g/Yen] than one in Korea 28 [g/Yen]. Therefore, it was better to retrieve and reutilize the components in Korea. However, if the maximum GHG recovery efficiency is desired, Japan is a better option.

Highlights

The environmental issues of natural resource depletion and global warming have been increasing in severity
GreenHouse Gas (GHG) emissions associated with the manufacturing of these products contribute to global warming
Life cycle option selection involves the reuse, recycling, and disposal of each component by disassembly [3,4]. These options can prevent the wastage of virgin materials and GHG emissions by reutilizing the components

Summary

Introduction

The environmental issues of natural resource depletion and global warming have been increasing in severity. Electronic waste accounts for only 1–3% of hazardous waste, such products are composed of many components and emit harmful toxins when buried in landfills [1]. Assembled products, such as electronic products, are often disposed of as waste even when they retain some useful components and materials that can be recovered by reuse and recycling as the End-of-Life (EOL) stage [2]. Life cycle option selection involves the reuse, recycling, and disposal of each component by disassembly [3,4] These options can prevent the wastage of virgin materials and GHG emissions by reutilizing the components

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