Waste From Electrical And Electronic Equipment Research Articles

Influence of TiO2 Nanoparticles on the Physical, Mechanical, and Structural Characteristics of Cementitious Composites with Recycled Aggregates.

The aim of this study is to analyze the effect of the addition of TiO2 nanoparticles (NTs) on the physical and mechanical properties, as well as the microstructural changes, of cementitious composites containing partially substituted natural aggregates (NAs) with aggregates derived from the following four recycled materials: glass (RGA), brick (RGB), blast-furnace slag (GBA), and recycled textolite waste with WEEE (waste from electrical and electronic equipment) as the primary source (RTA), in line with sustainable construction practices. The research methodology included the following phases: selection and characterization of raw materials, formulation design, experimental preparation and testing of specimens using standardized methods specific to cementitious composite mortars (including determination of apparent density in the hardened state, mechanical strength in compression, flexure, and abrasion, and water absorption by capillarity), and structural analysis using specialized techniques (scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS)). The analysis and interpretation of the results focused primarily on identifying the effects of NT addition on the composites. Results show a decrease in density resulting from replacing NAs with recycled aggregates, particularly in the case of RGB and RTA. Conversely, the introduction of TiO2 nanoparticles resulted in a slight increase in density, ranging from 0.2% for RTA to 7.4% for samples containing NAs. Additionally, the introduction of TiO2 contributes to improved compressive strength, especially in samples containing RTA, while flexural strength benefits from a 3-4% TiO2 addition in all composites. The compressive strength ranged from 35.19 to 70.13 N/mm2, while the flexural strength ranged from 8.4 to 10.47 N/mm2. The abrasion loss varied between 2.4% and 5.71%, and the water absorption coefficient varied between 0.03 and 0.37 kg/m2m0.5, the variations being influenced by both the nature of the aggregates and the amount of NTs added. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis showed that TiO2 nanoparticles are uniformly distributed in the cementitious composites, mainly forming CSH gel. TiO2 nanoparticles act as nucleating agents during early hydration, as confirmed by EDS spectra after curing.

Recycling of Polycarbonate/Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene Blends with Flame Retardant Additives for 3D Printing Filament

Recycling waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) for valuable materials is a critical aspect of the circular economy and sustainable waste management. Recycling these solid wastes into value-added products is one method for reducing landfill waste and pollution. The purpose of this research was to investigate the recyclability of plastic wastes of Polycarbonate Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene blends with Brominated Flame-Retardant additives (PC-ABS-FR). Two types of plastic wastes, PC-ABS-FR (GL) and PC-ABS-FR (DB), were collected and converted into polymer chips using a mechanical process. To study the effectiveness of waste recyclability, 3D printing filaments were produced through the extrusion process. Chemical elements, functional groups, and thermal and mechanical properties of recycled products were evaluated using EDX, FTIR, DSC, and universal tensile testing equipment, respectively. TGA, cone calorimetry, and melt flow index analyses were also carried out. The results showed that recycled PC- ABS–FR (GL) waste-based filament samples had better thermal and mechanical properties. On the contrary, PC- ABS–FR (DB) waste recyclability was not effective in filament extrusion. The mechanical properties of the 3D printing filaments produced from PC-ABS-FR electronic waste were found to be similar to those observed in commercially available and previously reported filaments. The strength, thermal property, cross-sectional homogeneity, and filament diameter of 1.8 ± 0.03 mm of the 3D printer filament made from PC- ABS–FR (GL) were suitable for 3D printing applications such as children’s toys, dust bins, and flower vases.

Ishikawa Diagram, Gray Numbers and Pareto Principle for the Analysis of the Causes of WEEE Production in Cameroon: Case of SMEs Implementing ISO 14001:2015

The issue of Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) in Africa lacks a concrete answer at present. This study aimed to provide an integrated approach using qualitative and quantitative research methods based on the 80/20 principle and the grey system theory, in order to address the uncertainty in the existing literature. First, through a qualitative approach, the authors analysed the environment for the management of WEEE by eight companies in Cameroon, through a literature review and observations made in the field under the framework of the ISO 14001:2015 standard. Then, the weights of the selected cause of the WEEE using grey system theory were proposed and applied, combining the findings from both the qualitative and quantitative methods. Based on the data obtained through the analysis, the research results indicate that the assessed Cameroonian companies dealing with WEEE management can implement measures to reduce WEEE.

Electronic Waste Treatment Flows in Norway: Investigating recycling rates and embodied emissions

Norway is one of the countries in Europe generating the most waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) per capita. Extended producer responsibility schemes are incorporated as part of the national waste policy, with clear goals towards recovery of materials from the waste fraction. Investigating the WEEE flows in Norway, we observe clear improvements needed in the transparency of the sector, and based on the information gathered, we estimate lower recycling of materials than provided through official statistics based on reporting. 68% of WEEE sent to recycling treatments are recycled into reusable material. Accounting for WEEE occurring outside of the treatment system, only 58% is recovered for recycling. We also estimate the CO2-eq emissions of different End-of-Life treatments of WEEE, and the embodied CO2-equivalent emissions of each WEEE category, illustrating 1) what category carry the largest environmental burden with respect to its embedded materials, and 2) the environmental impact of specific treatment options within the system. We show how the recycling rate of precious metals have significant influence over the environmental impact recovery potential of the system. Its not just the amount of material that is recycled that is important, including a proxy for expended emissions effectively illustrates the need for more precise policy implementation to ensure a functional circular economy.

High efficiency upcycling of post-consumer acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene via plasma-assisted mechanochemistry

Recycling plastic waste has become of utmost importance due to the escalating volume of waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), with its superior impact strength and many applications, constitutes a significant portion of WEEE. Although diverse approaches to recycling ABS have been developed, there remains an unmet need to enhance the mechanical properties of post-consumer recycled ABS with high recycling efficiency. The major hurdle to recycling ABS is caused by the thermo-oxidative degradation of the butadiene phase and phase separation between ABS and additives, which reduce the impact strength. Conventional methods employed compatibilizers and organic solvents to improve the compatibility between ABS and additives. Nevertheless, these approaches typically consume large amount of solvents, and thereby have limitations in terms of process feasibility, recycling efficiency, and environmental considerations. Here, we used plasma-assisted mechanochemistry (PMC) to upcycle post-consumer ABS through blending it with styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) to enhance its mechanical properties. By concurrently applying high-energy mechanical forces and plasma gases in a dry condition, PMC induced chemical bond between oxidatively degraded ABS and radical-formed SBS chain. The improved interfacial affinity led to an overall homogeneous distribution of SBS particles within the ABS matrix, resulting in a reduction in particle size. Therefore, the PMC-processed upcycled ABS blends could endure high external forces with enhanced impact strength and elongation at break. Consequently, our PMC-based approach demonstrates an upcycling process of post-consumer ABS with high recycling efficiency that is also eco-friendly.

Simulation of Electronic Waste Reverse Chains for the Sao Paulo Circular Economy: An Artificial Intelligence-Based Approach for Economic and Environmental Optimizations.

The objective of this study was to apply simulation and genetic algorithms for the economic and environmental optimization of the reverse network (manufacturers, waste managers, and recyclers in Sao Paulo, Brazil) of waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) to promote the circular economy. For the economic evaluation, the reduction in fuel, drivers, insurance, depreciation, maintenance, and charges was considered. For the environmental evaluation, the impact of abiotic, biotic, water, land, air, and greenhouse gases was measured. It was concluded that the optimized structure of the WEEE reverse chains for Sao Paulo, Brazil provided a reduction in the number of collections, thus making the most of cubage. It also generated economic and environmental gains, contributing to the strategic actions of the circular economy. Therefore, the proposed approach is replicable in organizational practice, which is mainly required to meet the 2030 agenda of reducing the carbon footprint generated by transport in large cities. Thus, this study can guide companies in structuring the reverse WEEE chains in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and other states and countries for economic and environmental optimization, which is an aspect of great relevance considering the exponential generation of WEEE.

Characterization and Toxic Potency of Airborne Particles Formed upon Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment Waste Recycling: A Case Study.

Manual dismantling, shredding, and mechanical grinding of waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) at recycling facilities inevitably lead to the accidental formation and release of both coarse and fine particle aerosols, primarily into the ambient air. Since diffuse emissions to air of such WEEE particles are not regulated, their dispersion from the recycling plants into the adjacent environment is possible. The aim of this interdisciplinary project was to collect and characterize airborne WEEE particles smaller than 1 μm generated at a Nordic open waste recycling facility from a particle concentration, shape, and bulk and surface composition perspective. Since dispersed airborne particles eventually may reach rivers, lakes, and possibly oceans, the aim was also to assess whether such particles may pose any adverse effects on aquatic organisms. The results show that WEEE particles only exerted a weak tendency toward cytotoxic effects on fish gill cell lines, although the exposure resulted in ROS formation that may induce adverse effects. On the contrary, the WEEE particles were toxic toward the crustacean zooplankter Daphnia magna, showing strong effects on survival of the animals in a concentration-dependent way.

Gravity Concentration in Urban Mining Applications—A Review

Urban mining has emerged as a concept that goes beyond conventional recycling, as it aims to tackle both the challenges of solid waste generation and management, as well as the scarcity of primary resources. Gravity concentration has gained increasing attention as a promising method for addressing crucial challenges in urban mining applications. In this sense, this review provides a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of gravity concentration in urban mining processes, covering principles, techniques, current applications, recent advancements, challenges, and opportunities. Emphasis was placed on shifting from the commonly found literature focus on ore processing to solid waste processing. Three types of solid waste, namely plastics, construction and demolition waste (CDW), and waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), were chosen for a more in-depth examination due to their massive production and widespread generation. Discussions also considered the potential of gravity concentration to address the unique challenges in their processing and explored possibilities for future developments.

A Review of Top Submerged Lance (TSL) Processing—Part II: Thermodynamics, Slag Chemistry and Plant Flowsheets

In Part II of this series of review papers, the reaction mechanisms, thermodynamics, slag chemistry and process flowsheets are analyzed concerning cases where the TSL bath smelter has found its application. These include the primary and secondary production routes of five non-ferrous metals (tin, copper, lead, nickel, zinc), ironmaking and two waste-processing applications (spent pot lining and municipal solid waste/related ash treatment). Thereby, chemistry and processing aspects of these processes are concisely reviewed here, allowing for clear and in-depth overview of related aspects. In contrast to Part I, the focus lies on a holistic analysis of the metallurgical processes themselves, especially the particularities induced by carrying them out in a TSL reactor rather than on the respective equipment and auxiliaries. The methodology employed per metal/application is presented briefly. Firstly, the feed type and associated statistical information are introduced, along with relevant process goals, e.g., the secondary metallurgy of copper involves the recovery of platinum group metals (PGMs) from waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). Subsequently, associated chemistry is discussed, including respective chemical equations, analysis of the reaction mechanisms and phase diagrams (especially of associated slag systems); these are redrawn using FactSage 8.1 (databases used: FactPS, FToxid, FTmisc, FTsalt and FTOxCN) and validated by comparing them with the literature. Then, based on the above understanding of chemistry and thermodynamics, the flowsheets of several industrial TSL plants are introduced and discussed while providing key figures associated with process conditions and input/output streams. Finally, this article culminates by providing a concise overview of the simulation and digitization efforts on TSL technology. In light of the foregoing discourse, this paper encapsulates basic principles and operational details, specifically those pertaining to TSL bath smelting operations within the non-ferrous industry, thereby offering valuable insights intended to benefit both scholarly researchers and industry professionals.

A Recent Digitalization in Recycling Industry Attaining Ecological Sustainability: A Comprehensive Outlook and Future Trend.

The management of waste through dual way of recycling (i-e offline and online) is assumed to have a key role in attaining ecological sustainability and enabling circular practices. The research on online recycling is gaining evolution in recent age. Prior literature on the current research theme has failed to provide a comprehensive outlook and future trend. Therefore, the current research intends to elaborate the current research scenario linked with online recycling by critically scrutinizing the prior research over the last 41 years. A comprehensive analysis was conducted using the Scopus database, retrieving a total of 866 articles. These articles were selected to provide a conceptual overview and understanding of the fundamental research conducted in the field. By employing bibliometric analysis this research provides comprehensive detail about evolution, mapping of publications and prominent trends from the year 1981 to 2022 to understand the practices and future trends of online recycling research. The outcomes elucidated that there is exponential increase in research publications relating to online recycling over the last five years. The most influential producer of online recycling research are China, United Kingdom and United States. Chinese Universities has the highest number of publications among all the countries across globe. Moreover, the current research trend is focused on technology based circular economy, industrial ecology, bio-based waste management, dual channel recycling, municipal waste, waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), environmental impact and lifecycle assessment. Hence, the prominent research perspective and highlighted features could offer recommendation for upcoming studies to contribute in literature and help practitioners, policymakers and professionals move towards circular practices.

WEEE polymers valorization, its use as fuel in the gasification process and revaluation of the inert by-products obtained: Sustainable mortars as a solution

The global production of polymer materials has exploded in the last few decades. Their mechanical properties, erosion and corrosion resistance, good performance as insulation materials, and their ease and flexibility of manufacturing have made polymers one of the most widely used materials in the industry and in daily life. Several institutions and governments are beginning to raise serious environmental and ecological concerns with international impact soon, due to the increasing level of polymer production, which does not seem to be slowing down. It is necessary for the scientific community to make efforts in the development and evaluation of new methodologies to enable the inclusion of these types of materials in the circular economy of various production sectors. This is important in order to reduce the ecological impact caused by the current global production level of polymers. One of the most used methods for the recovery of polymeric materials is energy valorization through thermochemical processes. An example of this is thermal gasification using fuels composed of biomass and a mixture of polymeric waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). Through this thermochemical process, high-energy value synthesis gas, with a high concentration of hydrogen, is obtained on one hand, while waste products in the form of chars, ashes and slag are generated on the other hand. This manuscript presents a detailed study methodology that begins with chemical analysis of the raw material and includes subsequent analysis of mechanical results for the revaluation of these residual inert by-products, using them as partial substitutes in cement clinker to produce building mortars. This described methodology influences directly in the LCC (Life Cycle Costing) of final designed products in plastic and extend material life cycle Plastic materials are here to stay, so the study and optimization of polymer waste recovery processes are vital in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the European Union in terms of efficiency and sustainability. It is also the only possible way to create an environmentally sustainable future world for future generations. After applying the described methodology, the mechanical test results show that the modified mortars exhibit established behaviour during the hardening time and similar strength growth compared to commercial mortars. The maximum mechanical strengths achieved, including compressive and flexural strength, make modified mortars a viable choice for several applications in the civil engineering sector.

Generation and composition of solid waste in low-income areas of Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria

This study was carried out to determine the composition of solid wastes generated by some households in low-income areas of Jos Plateau State. Point source daily collection of household wastes from selected homes that were initially identified and categorized as low-income households were carried out for one week. The collected waste samples were weighed and sorted into food, ash/unburnt wood, plastic film/bags, fines, miscellaneous combustible, papers/cards, textiles, waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), glass, metals, dense plastic, garden waste and others. The components of these solid wastes were further classified into biodegradable (65.2%), recyclable (13.2%) and residual (21.6%). Biodegradable materials in the waste stream per household ranged from 1.7 kg to 18.3 kg per week. The recyclable materials produced by households varied from 0.4 kg to 2.9 kg and residual waste ranged from 0.6 kg to 6.0 kg per week. Urbanization and population growth are solely responsible for high increasing rate of solid wastes. The average household size found in the study area is 6.3 compared to an average household size of 4.6 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey and 5.5 for Jos – Bukuru metropolis.

Material Flow Analysis in WEEE Management for Circular Economy: A Content Review on Applications, Limitations, and Future Outlook

Recently, the material flow analysis (MFA) of waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) has attracted much interest from researchers worldwide because of its function as a decision-making tool for moving towards a circular economy and sustainability in WEEE management. However, review studies on the development of MFA in WEEE management studies are still lacking. To fill this gap, 115 MFA studies published in various databases between 2010 and 2022 were analysed to provide a comprehensive overview of current research progress and recommendations for future studies. Three major elements from previous studies were reviewed using content analysis: (i) the trend of publishing in OECD and non-OECD countries over time; (ii) the scope and boundaries of the aspect studied, and the use of MFA in forecasting the generation, flow, and stock of WEEE; and (iii) providing a future outlook for MFA studies based on its limitations. Further analysis has revealed a considerable increase in the number of studies on MFA of WEEE in major OECD nations; however, the number of studies on concentrated areas of WEEE, particularly in non-OECD countries, remains low. Another limitation of MFA research is the scope and boundaries, with very few studies addressing the aspects of uncertainty analysis, circular economy, and life cycle analysis. Due to the increasing number of newly developed methodologies and the absence of thorough evaluation on this study topic, few studies properly utilised the static or dynamic MFA model. Thus, based on the research limitations and gaps discussed, recommendations for future studies are proposed.

Thermodynamic rarity of electrical and electronic waste: Assessment and policy implications for critical materials

AbstractThe strategic relevance of extracting raw materials from waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) in the EU is increasing due to value chain risks caused by geopolitical instability, accessibility of specific minerals, and decreasing reserves due to growing extraction rates. This article examines the quantities of so‐called critical raw materials (CRMs) originating within WEEE streams from a depletion perspective. Presently, current recycling targets are based solely on mass collection and recycling rates. We examine the potential limitations of this approach using an exergy‐based indicator named thermodynamic rarity. This indicator represents the exergy costs needed for producing materials from the bare rock to market. The case of Italy is used to explore the application of the indicator at the macro (national) and micro (company) level for the product categories “small electronics” and “screens and monitors.” Our estimations show significant differences between the mass and rarity of materials within Italian WEEE streams. While iron accounts for more than 70% of the weight of the product categories analyzed, it accounts for less than 15% of the rarity. Similarly, several CRMs with a small mass have a higher rarity value, for example, tungsten with less than 0.1% of the mass and over 6% of the rarity. The policy context is reflected upon, where it is argued that thermodynamic rarity can provide novel insights to support end‐of‐life WEEE decision‐making processes, for example, target development and recycling standards setting to help prioritize material monitoring and recovery options.

Potential for Increased Use of Secondary Raw Materials in the Copper Industry as a Countermeasure Against Climate Change in Japan

The copper industry faces serious challenges in achieving the dual goals of mitigating climate change and developing a circular economy, as the increased use of secondary raw materials could increase CO 2 emissions during the smelting stage. This study aimed to examine the possibility of increased use of secondary raw materials (copper scrap and waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) substrates) in the Japanese copper industry as a countermeasure to climate change. We comprehensive analyzed the changes in CO 2 emissions and costs associated with increased use of secondary raw materials compared to the use of primary copper resources by establishing an intensity at each stage within the system boundary. The analysis results established that CO 2 emissions can be reduced but costs may increase, and that purchasing carbon credits is economically more advantageous. It was also established that the results will vary depending on how CO 2 emissions and costs are allocated because multiple metals can be recovered from WEEE substrates and that the carbon footprint of all‑copper allocation will be significantly lower in the future because of the expected development of decarbonization technologies, including transportation. The study results indicate the potential of the copper industry to expand its use of secondary raw materials from a climate change perspective. CO 2 emissions resulting from the increased use of secondary raw materials in the Japanese copper industry.

A Logistic Platform to ensure a sustainable transportation of Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment

The C-SERVEES project, funded by European Union's Horizon 2020 programme, aims to boost a resource-efficient circular economy in the electrical and electronic (E&E) sector through the development, testing and validation of new circular economic business models. Product recovery is an emerging business area which shall be attractive from both economic and environmental point of view. Several points contribute to the success of this action, such as costs, time and safety for disassembling products, availability and costs of raw materials, disposal costs of end-of-life products and transport impact of reverse logistics. In this context, the Logistic Platform, developed by RINA-C, aims to ensure a sustainable transportation of the WEEE (Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment) among the stakeholders to enable the re-use of the recovered materials and to re-insert them in the process.

Development of a life cycle based process for cobalt recovering from cell batteries

Considering the great challenge of managing waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) , it is essential the creation of new recycling processes to allow efficiently the extraction of resources from this waste. Brazilians discarded about 114 million cell phones per year, and it represents an annual average amount of 456 tonnes of discarded cobalt that are in the Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) of these cell phones. This value is higher than Brazil's production of cobalt in 2016 (400 tonnes), which was the last year that the country produced refined cobalt. The environmental impact from the implementation of mining processes is one of the biggest challenges to make these processes viable. However, recycling processes also have environmental impacts, whether through consumptions of energy, water, and other inputs. In this research the environmental impacts of five different developed and tested processes (scenarios) were developed and tested in one of the laboratories of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (COPPE/SAGE - Laboratory of Sustainable Production) to recover cobalt from cell phones Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). The obtained results on the environmental impacts were compared with a reference scenario, related to obtaining of virgin cobalt from nature. This comparison was made using a methodology based on LCA (ISO 14040) to contrast environmental impacts. Overall, all five cobalt recycling routes developed in the laboratory had better environmental performance than the baseline scenario, however, the scenario considering the use of sodium sulphide as precipitating agent presented the best performance in most of the analysed environmental impact categories, obtaining reduction percentages of 43%, 90%, 96%, 98% and 72% for the Climate Change (GWP 100), Terrestrial Acidification (TA), Metal Depletion (MD), Water Depletion (WD) impact categories) and Fossil Depletion (FD) respectively. • Brazilians discarded about 114 million cell phones batteries per year; • In Brazil around 456 tonnes of cobalt from cell phones batteries are yearly discarded; • Five routes (scenarios) for recycling cobalt from Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) were developed in the laboratory; • Environmental assessments of the developed routes were carried out using LCA; • The presented routes have lower environmental impacts than the reference scenario to the primary production of cobalt from mining.

Analysis of the Adsorption-Release Isotherms of Pentaethylenehexamine-Modified Sorbents for Rare Earth Elements (Y, Nd, La).

Waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is constantly increasing in quantity and becoming more and more heterogeneous as technology is rapidly advancing. The negative impacts it has on human and environment safety, and its richness in valuable rare earth elements (REEs), are accelerating the necessity of innovative methods for recycling and recovery processes. The aim of this work is to comprehend the adsorption and release mechanisms of two different solid sorbents, activated carbon (AC) and its pentaethylenehexamine (PEHA)-modified derivative (MAC), which were deemed adequate for the treatment of REEs deriving from WEEE. Experimental data from adsorption and release tests, performed on synthetic mono-ionic solutions of yttrium, neodymium, and lanthanum, were modelled via linear regression to understand the better prediction between the Langmuir and the Freundlich isotherms for each REE-sorbent couple. The parameters extrapolated from the mathematical modelling were useful to gain an a priori knowledge of the REEs-sorbents interactions. Intraparticle diffusion was the main adsorption mechanism for AC. PEHA contributed to adsorption by means of coordination on amino groups. Release was based on protons fostering both a cation exchange mechanism and protonation. The investigated materials confirmed their potential suitability to be employed in real processes on WEEE at the industrial level.

Assessing the relation between waste management policies and circular economy goals

The European Union has recently prioritized waste policies by embedding them in the new Horizon Europe work programme. Here, circular economy (CE) and digitalization are matching together in order to support all the industrial sectors in increasing their sustainability level. One of the main impacts expected from the EU is a better exploitation of wasted resources. However, waste streams are very different in terms of volumes, embedded materials and management policies. Considering only those waste streams with highest volumes, this study focuses on End-of-Life Vehicle (ELV), Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) and Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE). Starting from some policy recommendations and analyses identified through a literature review and the support of the experts, a survey has been conducted to identify the most critical items for each waste stream. Results of the survey show that, on the one hand, end of waste strategies has the highest importance for WEEE and ELV categories. On the other hand, social change has the highest importance for MSW. Consequently, end of waste strategies and social change should be considered as enablers of reuse and recycling practices in their reference contexts. In order to counteract the significant socio-economic issues already caused by delays in taking clear decisions about climate change mitigation strategies, policymakers should focus on these policy implications urgently if even more imminent environmental catastrophes are to be avoided.

Environmentally-conscious behaviours in the circular economy. An analysis of consumers' green purchase intentions for refurbished smartphones

The management of waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is a hot issue for both the scientific community and practitioners. Among the strategies that lead a system to circularity, that of reconditioning (or refurbishing) appears to be very suitable and profitable for WEEE management. According to it, this paper aims to contribute to the existing literature on consumer behavior and Circular Economy by studying what determines the green purchase intention of a refurbished smartphone. By applying a Discriminant Analysis it was found that psychological factors, such as green perceived value and environmental knowledge, are the most powerful predictors of green purchase intention of refurbished smartphones, while social and emotional ones, i.e. collectivism, subjective norms and environmental concern, do not influence it. Our results can be useful to both remanufacturers and retailers of refurbished products to identify more effective marketing strategies, as well as to policymakers to define specific measures and policies able to improve the environmental concern of the end consumers.