scholarly journals Sorting, shredding and smelting scrap

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 221-255
Author(s):  
Stefan Laser
Keyword(s):  
Global Economy ◽  
Electronic Waste ◽  
Waste Recycling ◽  
High Tech ◽  
Accounting System ◽  
Industrial Processing ◽  
Waste Studies

The global economy of e-waste recycling has received much attention in recent waste studies literature. This article gives an account from the inside of two different sites within a leading high-tech recycling and smelting company in which such e-waste is assessed; and discusses the valuation of electronic waste in the course of its industrial processing. Based on a two-month long ethnography by way of an internship, the article examines how the recycler manages to distinguish and separate out valuable ‘scrap’, in contrast to valueless ‘waste’. The article subdivides the inquiry into two questions. What practices are involved when transforming e-waste into scrap and waste? And how can we appreciate differences in how they are configured? The study of two different facilities in operation next to one another provides additional leverage to the inquiry since the valuation practices involved when assessing the incoming e-waste differ between them. Differences are tied to specificities in how the electronics are sorted out, shredded, and smelted. The article shows how these processes of deformation are linked to the valuation practices and the accounting system of the company. Calculations, it is argued, succeed only because things are literally broken.

Environmental and Economic Assessment of a Portable E-Waste Recycling and Rare Earth Elements Recovery Process

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Ohene Opare ◽  
Amin Mirkouei
Keyword(s):  
Rare Earth ◽  
Rare Earth Elements ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Electronic Waste ◽  
Electronic Devices ◽  
Economic Assessment ◽  
Recovery Process ◽  
Waste Recycling ◽  
High Tech ◽  
Regulatory Bodies

Abstract Over 40 million tons of electronic devices (e.g., computers, laptops, notebooks, and cell phones) became obsolete in 2020, and this estimate is expected to grow exponentially, mainly due to the decreasing lifespan of electronics. Most of the electronics replaced end up in municipal landfills. Electronic waste (e-waste) has raised concerns because many components in these products are not biodegradable and are toxic. Some of the toxic materials and chemicals include rare earth elements (REEs), which are currently experiencing supply constraints. This study focuses on generated e-wastes from households due to the high amount of these wastes. Technologies for e-waste mining must be tailored to household needs rather than large-scale industrial processes. The use of portable e-waste recovery systems may produce win-win outcomes where industry, households, and regulatory bodies could benefit, and this will incentivize e-waste mining for all stakeholders. This study investigates the sustainability benefits of employing a portable e-waste recycling and REEs recovery, using techno-economic and life cycle assessment methods. The results indicate that the proposed approach in this study mitigates environmental impacts when maleic acid is used as one of the key ingredients in recovering and separating REEs and other metals. It is concluded that when adopted globally, this technology can significantly address the e-waste challenge while improving the availability of REEs for high-tech applications.

Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) in PM2.5 associated with various source sectors in southern China

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
qiqi li ◽  
Tao Wang ◽  
yuan zeng ◽  
yun fan ◽  
Shejun Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Flame Retardants ◽  
Southern China ◽  
Electronic Waste ◽  
Brominated Flame Retardants ◽  
Waste Recycling ◽  
Recycling Facilities

The present study investigated legacy and novel brominated flame retardants (BFRs) in atmospheric PM2.5 associated with various urban source sectors in a city and electronic waste (e-waste) recycling facilities in...

Passive Air Sampling of PCDD/Fs, PCBs, PAEs, DEHA, and PAHs from Informal Electronic Waste Recycling and Allied Sectors in Indian Megacities

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paromita Chakraborty ◽  
Harish Gadhavi ◽  
Balasubramanian Prithiviraj ◽  
Moitraiyee Mukhopadhyay ◽  
Sanjenbam Nirmala Khuman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electronic Waste ◽  
Air Sampling ◽  
Waste Recycling ◽  
Passive Air Sampling ◽  
Electronic Waste Recycling

CONCEPTUAL PRINCIPLES OF ACHIEVING INTELLECTUAL LEADERSHIP

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 100-104
Author(s):  
Liudmyla Tsymbal
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Intellectual Capital ◽  
Global Economy ◽  
Physical Capital ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Educational Process ◽  
High Tech ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Intellectual Leadership

The article identifies the key conceptual foundations for the formation of intellectual leadership of economic entities, including countries as specific actors in the global economy. Thorough preconditions for increasing the level of economic development and the impact of education have been identified. It is determined that historical concepts and modern realities of economic activity only actualize the role of education and enlightenment in the economic development of the national economy and ensuring its competitiveness. The strategies of increasing the competitiveness of individual countries of the world are analyzed, their key priorities in the conditions of formation of the knowledge economy are determined. The evolution of views on the role of human and intellectual capital in increasing the welfare of countries, the impact on GDP and other macroeconomic indicators is described. The ratings of countries are analyzed, in particular by the level of investment in intellectual capital and the structure of their GDP, which confirms the dominance of science-intensive economic activities. In addition, it was determined that the leading countries are characterized by increasing the role of knowledge-intensive activities, increasing the share of intangible assets, redistribution of capital of leading international companies and increasing research spending, increasing investment in human and intellectual capital, increasing exports of high-tech products. Analytical assessment confirms the advanced development of science-intensive industries in countries with developed economies, which creates the need for training and retraining of specialists needed for such industries. In modern conditions, the educational process ceases to be predominantly the prerogative of young people, and becomes a lifelong process, which increases spending on education in developed countries, but without denying the significant asymmetries on this indicator. Research confirms the direct relationship between the quality of human and physical capital and economic development, which is typical of highly developed countries, one of the main reasons for the development lag of the poorest countries. In addition, the article substantiates the key factors of intellectual leadership and their impact on the development of economic development strategies.

Hepatic ethoxyresorufin-O -deethylase induction in the common kingfisher from an electronic waste recycling site

2016 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 1594-1599 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiang-Ping Wu ◽  
Ling Mo ◽  
Hui Zhi ◽  
Ying Peng ◽  
Lin Tao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electronic Waste ◽  
Waste Recycling ◽  
The Common ◽  
Electronic Waste Recycling
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