Title
Thermodynamic rarity of electrical and electronic waste: Assessment and policy implications for critical materials
Author
Campbell-Johnston, K.
Roos Lindgreen, E.
Mondello, G.
Gulotta, T.M.
Vermeulen, W.J.V.
Salomone, R.
Publication year
2023
Abstract
The 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. (C) 2023 The Authors. Journal of Industrial Ecology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Society for Industrial Ecology.
Subject
circular economy
critical raw materials
eco-design
exergy
extended producer responsibility
policy analysis
waste from electrical and electronic equipment
Ecodesign
Electronic Waste
Exergy
Extraction
Oscillators (electronic)
Public policy
Recycling
Circular economy
Critical raw materials
Electrical and electronic wastes
Extended producer responsibility
Policy analysis
Policy implications
Product categories
Waste assessment
Waste from electrical and electronic equipments
Waste policy
Decision making
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TNO identifier
981436
Publisher
John Wiley and Sons Inc
ISSN
1088-1980
Source
Journal of Industrial Ecology
Document type
article