E-Waste, Extended Producer Responsibility, Product Stewardship

Product Stewardship (PS) is a concept that has gained significant attention in the field of environmental management and sustainable development. This article provides a comprehensive literature review of PS, exploring its evolution, key principles, implementation strategies, and impacts on environmental sustainability. The review synthesizes findings from peer-reviewed journals, books, and reports to elucidate the various dimensions of PS, including its role in promoting resource efficiency, circular economy practices, and extended producer responsibility. The article also examines challenges and opportunities associated with PS initiatives across different industries and geographical contexts.

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report of Patna Metro Rail Project Corridor-1
provides a comprehensive evaluation of the potential environmental impacts associated with
the development and operation of the proposed metro rail system in Patna, Bihar. The project
encompasses two corridors: Corridor-1, extending from Danapur to Mithapur, and Corridor-2,
connecting Patna Junction to New ISBT. This assessment aims to identify, predict, and
mitigate adverse environmental effects while enhancing positive impacts, ensuring
sustainable development.
The EIA report details the baseline environmental conditions, encompassing air and water
quality, noise levels, soil characteristics, flora and fauna, and socio-economic aspects of the
project area. Extensive field surveys, public consultations, and secondary data collection were
conducted to establish a robust understanding of the existing environment.
Key findings indicate that while the metro project promises significant socio-economic
benefits such as improved urban mobility, reduced traffic congestion, and lower vehicular
emissions, it also poses environmental challenges. These include potential air and noise
pollution during construction, disruption to local ecosystems, and possible displacement of
communities.
Mitigation measures proposed in the EIA include the implementation of best practices in
construction management, the adoption of noise barriers, dust suppression techniques, and
regular monitoring of air and water quality. Additionally, strategies for the conservation of
biodiversity, proper waste management, and community engagement are outlined to ensure
minimal environmental disruption and enhanced public acceptance.
The report concludes that with the implementation of the recommended mitigation measures,
the Patna Metro Rail project can proceed with manageable environmental impacts,
contributing to the city's sustainable urban development and improved quality of life for its
residents

This study evaluates the current collection and recycling of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) in Italy by means of the analysis of national and regional data from EUROSTAT and the Italian WEEE Coordination Centre database, as well as through qualitative interviews with key stakeholders of the WEEE management system of the Campania region (Southern Italy). Urban systems, among which the metropolitan city of Naples in the Campania region, are the main users of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) and, as a consequence, the main generators of WEEE, which must be managed and recovered properly in order to prevent the loss of valuable resources and the associated environmental impacts. In addition to analysing the current state of WEEE collection and recycling in Italy and its regions and urban systems, the study aims to improve our understanding of the WEEE reverse supply chain and the main barriers and drivers to collection and recycling. The results reveal that th...

The paper introduces a new recycling method of WEEE: Magnetic Density Separation. By using this technology, both grade and recovery rate of recycled products are over 90%. Good separations are not only observed in relatively big WEEE samples, but also in samples with smaller sizes or electrical wires.

The minimalist, atomistic classical liberal definition of markets is dominant in the global political economy literature, if often implicitly so. But major shifts are occurring in the 21st century, including China’s rise, which highlight the deficiencies of this definition and challenge us to develop fresh tools to conceptualize global markets. There are three ways in which China’s emergence challenges established market conceptualizations: the continued resilience of China’s authoritarian state-led capitalist economic model, China’s positioning around notions of power and fairness in the global economy, and China’s mixed preferences regarding global markets. The study of China’s rise, far from only impressing upon us how different China is, shines a light on dynamics that are prevalent everywhere, yet suffer from a lack of attention. This paper argues that the political economy literature is limiting the development of richer conceptualizations of the market because it operates wit...

This study evaluates the current collection and recycling of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) in Italy by means of the analysis of national and regional data from EUROSTAT and the Italian WEEE Coordination Centre database, as well as through qualitative interviews with key stakeholders of the WEEE management system of the Campania region (Southern Italy). Urban systems, among which the metropolitan city of Naples in the Campania region, are the main users of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) and, as a consequence, the main generators of WEEE, which must be managed and recovered properly in order to prevent the loss of valuable resources and the associated environmental impacts. In addition to analysing the current state of WEEE collection and recycling in Italy and its regions and urban systems, the study aims to improve our understanding of the WEEE reverse supply chain and the main barriers and drivers to collection and recycling. The results reveal that th...

This submission to the Australian Government's Right to Repair Productivity Commission in 2021 proposes that achieving sustainable design, production and consumption in response to the waste crisis requires a regulatory framework for Rights to Repair and Product Stewardships working together. It is discussed how, due to information asymmetry between producers and consumers, and the assortment problem (the great mix of products that become waste)  Right to Repair legislation is inefficient and will not be well accepted by manufacturers of particular product types resulting from rapid innovation. However, placed together upon an axis of product lifespan responsibility, with product types placed between one end of fully actualised Right to Repair (consumer responsibility) and the other end of fully actualised Product Stewardship (producer responsibility) creates a theoretical model for effective legislation to reduce waste, prolong product lifespans, and promote repair, reuse and remanufacturing before inefficient recycling.

This paper presents a framework that focuses on transitioning from a linear light bulb economy to a circular light bulb economy by developing a closed-loop system of reuse. The conceptual framework is based on a pilot study conducted in India and strengthened by a comprehensive review and analysis of relevant literature. Accordingly, the proposed paradigms are a result of best practices identified during the pilot study. The results demonstrate the financial viability of the pilot study conducted over a period of three years. Additionally, the results provide evidence of the impact of the circular economy on economic growth, employment opportunity, and reduction in environmental waste. The discussion also identifies the barriers to the adoption of a circular economy framework including the role of attitude towards the environment and the skill gap in labor.

The mining of material resources requires knowledge about geogenic and anthropogenic deposits, in particular on the location of the deposits with the comparatively highest concentration of raw materials. In this study, we develop a framework that allows the establishment of analogies between geological and anthropogenic processes. These analogies were applied to three selected products containing rare earth elements (REE) in order to identify the most concentrated deposits in the anthropogenic cycle. The three identified anthropogenic deposits were characterised according to criteria such as "host rock", "REE mineralisation" and "age of mineralisation", i.e. regarding their "geological" setting. The results of this characterisation demonstrated that anthropogenic deposits have both a higher concentration of REE and a longer mine life than the evaluated geogenic deposit (Mount Weld, Switzerland). The results were further evaluated by comparison...

The prevalence of bacteria in solid waste dump from domestic waste in Owerri was studied. Six samples were collected from Egbu community in Owerri North and examined bacteriologically using Nutrient agar and macconkey agar and were serially diluted, cultured, identified and characterized. Five genera of bacteria were isolated. They were Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella sp, Escherichia coli, lactobacillus sp and Corynebacterium sp and from the findings, Klebsiella exhibited the highest  number of bacterial activity (66.6%) while Corynebacterium and Iactobacillus exhibited the lowest number of bacterial activity (16.67%). Futhermore, location D had the highest total heterotropic bacterial count of 5.75x 10 8 and the least was location E with 6.25x10 7 . The presence of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Cornebacteria and Klebsiella in the waste dump site is an indication that the contamination is of human and plant orign or their activities. Keywords: Nutrient agar ,macconkey a...

The prevalence of bacteria in solid waste dump from domestic waste in Owerri was studied. Six samples were collected from Egbu community in Owerri North and examined bacteriologically using Nutrient agar and macconkey agar and were serially diluted, cultured, identified and characterized. Five genera of bacteria were isolated. They were Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella sp, Escherichia coli, lactobacillus sp and Corynebacterium sp and from the findings, Klebsiella exhibited the highest  number of bacterial activity (66.6%) while Corynebacterium and Iactobacillus exhibited the lowest number of bacterial activity (16.67%). Futhermore, location D had the highest total heterotropic bacterial count of 5.75x 10 8 and the least was location E with 6.25x10 7 . The presence of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Cornebacteria and Klebsiella in the waste dump site is an indication that the contamination is of human and plant orign or their activities. Keywords: Nutrient agar ,macconkey a...

The investigations in this study were performed on two types of waste linear (tubular) T8 and T12 lamps, which are mostly used in Turkey. Total average value of the mercury mass for the T8 and T12 lamps were calculated to be about 6 mg and 12 mg per lamp, respectively. SEM-EDX elemental analysis showed that approximately 52% of phosphor powders of waste T8 and T12 lamps was measured as calcium (Ca) by weight. ICP-OES analysis showed that some rare earth elements were traced in the T8 and T12 phosphor powders. These waste lamps could be considered as an ore of secondary raw materials. The use of recycled metals in lamp production instead of virgin metals may have positive environmental impacts through reduced energy use and reduced pollution related to the mining of the virgin source in Turkey.

A mixed methods, action-research study was conducted to assess the efficacy and usefulness of Facilitated Systems Thinking as an intervention for system design in complex, multi-stakeholder systems, especially where the stakeholders themselves design the system. This research is contextualized within and provides a case study on the Starbuck's Coffee Company's efforts to collaborate with stakeholders throughout food packaging value chain to create a system for recycling hot (poly-coated paper) and cold (plastic) take-away beverage cups. Comparative interview results indicate an increase in interviewee awareness of others in the value chain, increase in discussion of prototyping and pilots, and increase in their awareness of their own responsibilities and leverage points within the system. Preliminary results from the most recent intervention are nine stakeholder-designed pilot tests. This study supplements a larger investigation of the emerging system to recycle take-away cu...

This article is focused on the current environmental challenges and many aspects of a circular economy. A circular economy is a novel concept of material and energy management within all industrial societies. Contrary to a linear economy, a circular one aims to minimize the amounts of wastes produced, using and re-using them as a secondary materials. The article briefly discuss consequences of a circular economy within the Central European region, with a special focus on the Czech Republic. This region was selected as a template for implementation of a circular economy in other developing countries and emerging economies. In the article, the main obstacles and challenges for realization of a circular economy are outlined. into countries with still-developing market economies. As a model region Central Europe was selected, with a particular focus on the Czech Republic. The Central European region was deliberately chosen for the purposes of this article. It is a region with a strong t...

The European waste policy is focused on reducing the negative impact of waste, eliminating the unhealthy use of resources, and on better waste management. The aim of this paper is to analyse Romania’s waste management practices in the EU context. The research methodology is based on a quantitative and qualitative analysis. The descriptive data analysis reveals significant differences among EU countries in terms of the municipal waste generated and the recycling rate. The municipal waste generated registers decrease, whereas there are significant increases in terms of the recycling rates in the EU countries. The qualitative research is based on the analysis of structured interviews among stakeholders, relevant for the waste management in Romania. The information obtained based on interviews was processed using NVivo and the main findings are focused on recommendations for improving the waste management system. We have identified a lack of adequate public support in the waste field du...

In last decade, the lighting industry significantly changed with the development of light emitting diodes (LEDs) and their corresponding penetration of the market. The new technology increases energy efficiency and longevity compared to other types of lamps. As a result, LEDs can improve the sustainability performance of cities and towns, contributing to the mitigation of climate change and cutting costs over the long term. This report reviews LED procurement from multiple perspectives, formulated as a guide to help public and private stakeholders make more effective and sustainable decisions when buying lighting products. This publication is the collective work of students involved in the Masters of Environmental Science, Policy and Management (MESPOM) programme, currently enrolled at International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics (IIIEE). The research has been performed for the European Union Inter-reg Lighting Metropolis Project, which involves institutions, desig...

A systematic literature search has been conducted at the intersection of e‐waste and uncertainty and the mai n uncertainties identified have been categorized. The main uncertainties identified were: Different recycling technolog ies; unknown environmental impacts; different product design and composition; unknown reverse logistics costs; vari able cost of recycling; rapidly changing nature of electrical and electronic equipment; unpredictability about return o f items concerning quantity, quality and timing; unknown destination flow of e‐waste; different value of scrap mater ials; competition between the manufacturer and the remanufacturer; no common legislation at the national and global level ; outdated political aspects; and complexity of regulations.

The following submission is written on behalf of the City of Whittlesea from a Council officers perspective only, following an internal consultation and engagement process and review of Managing e-waste in Victoria discussion paper. The submission aims to identify uncertainties and queries in implementing such a ban, whilst also recognising the opportunities the ban can create. The submission is positioned from a local government perspective experiencing rapid growth at the interface of the urban/rural zone of Melbourne.

The study investigated the effects of environmental degradation on human health in nine selected oil communities in Delta State using well-structured 450 copies of questionnaires. Specific oil spillage and gas flaring data within the selected communities were also used. Result showed that 95.2% of the people had experienced environmental degradation from the oil producing communities and some agreed that most of the effects are still ongoing. The overall major cause of environmental degradation in all the oil producing communities is the negligence of duty by government agencies charged with oversight duties of monitoring and compliance (30.8%), Neglect of Environmental regulations/compliance (26.8%), corruption (23.6%), Lack of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) reports from Companies either at the beginning of the project or periodic assessment (14.7%) respectively. This has however given rise to high degree of sabotage that causes oil spillage in the area. Each community agree...

The mining of material resources requires knowledge about geogenic and anthropogenic deposits, in particular on the location of the deposits with the comparatively highest concentration of raw materials. In this study, we develop a framework that allows the establishment of analogies between geological and anthropogenic processes. These analogies were applied to three selected products containing rare earth elements (REE) in order to identify the most concentrated deposits in the anthropogenic cycle. The three identified anthropogenic deposits were characterised according to criteria such as "host rock", "REE mineralisation" and "age of mineralisation", i.e. regarding their "geological" setting. The results of this characterisation demonstrated that anthropogenic deposits have both a higher concentration of REE and a longer mine life than the evaluated geogenic deposit (Mount Weld, Switzerland). The results were further evaluated by comparison...

The massive growth of consumer electronics has led to an ever-expanding surge of end-of-life (EOL) electronics that require recycling. E-Waste, also known as Waste Electric and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) consists of discarded products or appliances that consume power.  Global E-Waste production is on track to reach 120 million tonnes per year by 2050 if current trends continue.  Expressed in other terms, it means that by 2050, each person living on the earth will discard 12 kgs of E-Waste on a yearly basis. 
The Government of Jordan (GOJ) wants to implement policies to avoid the environmental hazards caused by the growth of this type of waste. This policy includes developing a training manual that explains how to handle E-Waste in an environmentally sound manner.
This manual describes in detail the procedures to be followed in recycling E-Waste. First of all, it describes the safety requirements to handle E-Waste, including the recommended type of protective equipment. It also explains the classification of clear workspaces necessary to reduce the risks of accidents.  Additionally, it lists the set of tools needed to carry out the operations. 
Thereafter, the guide classifies E-Waste recycling in three processes, depending on both environmental impact and economic efficiency.  These processes are
Manual operations by using a set of tools and special workbenches.
Automatic transformation of the waste in specialized large fixed installations.
A combination of proceedings that incorporate both worker manipulation and an automatic process.
For example, lamps contain hazardous and toxic substances.  The treatment of EOL lamps is done exclusively in unique processing lines that are fully automatic.  On the other hand, computer desktops are recycled by hand, because of the high-value content of the fractions that can be extracted.  Others, such as old refrigerators require a combination of both procedures. The proposals in this manual follow the standards for WEEE recycling processes developed by the WEEELABEX project adapted to the circumstances that exist in Jordan. 
In summary, the objective of this handbook is to assist in the dismantling process of such equipment in an environmental and safe way, with help of the Best Available Technologies (BAT), with high-quality standards.

The following submission is written on behalf of the City of Whittlesea from a Council officers perspective only, following an internal consultation and engagement process and review of Managing e-waste in Victoria discussion paper. The submission aims to identify uncertainties and queries in implementing such a ban, whilst also recognising the opportunities the ban can create. The submission is positioned from a local government perspective experiencing rapid growth at the interface of the urban/rural zone of Melbourne.

grew larger. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Throughout my master’s process the list of people who contributed to my success First of all, I would like to thank my advisor, Dr. Wally Peters, whose guidance motivated my interest in Industrial Sustainability. He has been an excellent teacher; always there to listen to me and give me sincere advice, his confidence in LSS and in me as part of this team brought out the best in me. Working with him has been extremely valuable to me. Besides my advisor, I would like to express my honest gratitude to Dr. Bayoumi for being member of my committee and his invaluable help, guidance, support and understanding throughout my master’s process. Moreover, I would like to thank Dr. Rocheleau for being a member of my committee. And my thankfulness goes to Dr. Khan without whom I would have never been directed to Dr. Peters, and for his support and nourishing me with some very useful guidance during the course of my research work.

This article is focused on the current environmental challenges and many aspects of a circular economy. A circular economy is a novel concept of material and energy management within all industrial societies. Contrary to a linear economy, a circular one aims to minimize the amounts of wastes produced, using and re-using them as a secondary materials. The article briefly discuss consequences of a circular economy within the Central European region, with a special focus on the Czech Republic. This region was selected as a template for implementation of a circular economy in other developing countries and emerging economies. In the article, the main obstacles and challenges for realization of a circular economy are outlined. into countries with still-developing market economies. As a model region Central Europe was selected, with a particular focus on the Czech Republic. The Central European region was deliberately chosen for the purposes of this article. It is a region with a strong t...

Solid waste management requires specific rules to ensure the collection and management respecting the citizens and the environment. A brief review on how solid waste management is defined by international and national regulations is provided. The intention is to cover broader waste streams from municipal solid waste, including batteries and accumulators, end-of-life vehicles, packaging waste, waste from electric and electronic equipment, waste oils, biodegradable municipal waste, and waste tires.

The adoption of European Union’s directive on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) causes essential changes in the field of electronic scrap recycling. In Finland the new legislation was put in force in August 2005. The aim of the study is to discuss the problems of WEEE logistics considering the requirements of WEEE directive. This paper first describes the requirements of the legislation and the current situation of recycling management in Finland. The case study presents how collection of WEEE has been organised in Northern Finland. The problems and challenges of collection phases are discussed and an optimal model for the future is presented. The results prove that logistical costs are high and there are unnecessary handling and transportation stages in the current reverse supply chain of WEEE. The study also shows that legislation constraints, diverse characteristics and reuse value of EEE have an important impact on the strategic priorities of the future reverse lo...