Synergistic utilization mechanism of e-waste in regions with different levels of development: A case study of Guangdong Province

Abstract

The overall management of multi-stakeholders in the supply chain, such as consumers, collectors, dismantling enterprises, etc., is the core way to guide regions with different levels of development to form a synergy of e-waste utilization. Based on the complex system theory, this study evaluates e-waste flow trends in regions with different levels of development, and constructs a regional e-waste synergistic utilization model. We employ Guangdong Province, the most typical urban-rural dual structure, as a case study and explore the interplay of stakeholders in the supply chain and strategies for synergistic utilization of e-waste. It is found that e-waste in the developed areas will spontaneously flow to areas where dismantling and utilizing are highly concentrated. And stakeholders influence the e-waste recycling chain in terms of e-waste dismantling and utilizing and regional environmental performance. The simulation results show that Guangdong Province will still have a large demand for e-waste treatment, and the regional environmental loss will be obvious in 2030. Furthermore, we construct three policy scenarios: strengthening responsibility extension, regional joint prevention and regional collaborative innovation. Under the policy combination, the formal dismantling rate increases by 38.6% and the environmental performance loss ratio decreases by 18%, and the policies have a significant catalytic effect. We further analyze the role of the establishment of an extended responsibility system for producers and consumers, a reverse supply chain traceability system and a regional green circular supply chain system to promote the coordinated development of e-waste.