Strategies to Enable Convenient E-waste Returns to Manufacturers

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the e-waste problem, focusing on the challenges and solutions associated with the increasing amount of electronic waste generated globally. It examines the concept of e-waste, its impact on the environment and human health, and the practices adopted by manufacturers for e-waste management. The report delves into extended producer responsibility (EPR) and explores various strategies to enable end-users to conveniently return their e-waste to manufacturers, including take-back policies, recycling programs, and incentives. It highlights the importance of proper e-waste management in mitigating environmental and health risks. The report also includes a survey of electronic product manufacturing enterprises to analyze their e-waste management practices. The study emphasizes the need for manufacturers to comply with e-waste management laws, implement product life cycle assessments, and create programs that encourage end-users to return their old electronic products. Ultimately, the report aims to provide insights into effective strategies for reducing e-waste and promoting sustainable practices in the electronics industry.

Wicked Background Research
Report

TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT.....................................................................................................................................1
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
WICKED BACKGROUND ANALYSIS .......................................................................................2
Concept of E- Waste and its impact upon environment and human health............................2
Practices adopted by manufacturers for e-waste management...............................................3
Extended producer responsibility...........................................................................................4
Ways to enable end user to conveniently return their e-waste to manufacturer.....................4
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................9
RECOMMENDATIONS.................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................11

TITLE - How to enable end-users to conveniently return e-waste to
manufacturers?
ABSTRACT
This research is based on the analysis of E-waste which is an emerging problems in
developed countries. The life span of various electronic products has been substantially
shortened due to advancement in electronics, attractive consumer’s designs and marketing and
compatibility issues. There are various primary and secondary resources have been used to
collect relevant information on the ways to enable end users to conveniently return their e-waste
to manufacturers. Survey has been conducted on 10 electronic products manufacturing
enterprises have been chosen to analyse the measures and practices which they have undertaken
for e-waste management.
INTRODUCTION
E -Waste comprises wastes which is generated from used electronic devices and
appliances which are not fit for original intended use and destined for recovery, recycling or
disposal. Because technology advances at such a high rate, many electronic devices become
useless after a few years of utilization. At present, it is considered as major problem which affect
soil and water as obsolete electronic devices are rapidly filling landfills of globe. Most of E-
Waste which are thrown away improperly contains major harmful materials like beryllium,
cadmium, lead and mercury. Most of E- waste usually ends up with landfills- both at home and
in developing areas where toxic metals leach in to environment.
This major problem has occurred after advancement of new technology and devices such
as mobile phone, televisions etc. E-Waste is considered to be as serious environmental issue
which has occurred from toxic chemicals and heavy metals leaching in to soils in landfills which
is caused due to inappropriate recycling techniques used in developing countries.
Present report is based on analysis of E waste problem and identification of ways through
which consumers will be able to conveniently return e-waste to manufacturers.
WICKED BACKGROUND ANALYSIS
These important literatures have provided clear understanding about the problems and
measures that helps in enabling end users to return their e-waste to manufacturers.
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Concept of E- Waste and its impact upon environment and human health.
In accordance with the view of Kiddee, Naidu and Wong, (2013), electronic waste
included leftover from the electronic products including the discarded Mobile phones,
refrigerators, computers, environment devices and office equipment’s etc. According to (Palett,
Aiswarya and Jacob, 2013,), E wastage is presently responsible for the 5% of the municipal solid
waste across the countries and it affects more than just developed countries like Australia, UK
and Europe.
Marshall and Farahbakhsh, (2013), E-waste is one of the fastest growing pollution
problem worldwide presence, variety of toxic substances can contaminate environment and
threaten health of human beings. Life span of various electronic products has been substantially
shortened due to advancement in electronics, attractive designs of marketing as well as
compatibility issues. This mainly provides understanding that electronic products manufacturing
companies are responsible for reduction of e-waste and for an effective utilization of resources.
In addition, end users are analysed as those individuals who have utilized the products till the
end of products life cycle. Usually consumers who buy products and services from retailers of
electronic products are considered as end users.
Manufacturers are considered as those business enterprise which are involved in
development and selling of products to whole sellers. In this context, manufacturers are those
parties who have made restriction for consumption of products and services.
As per the view of Oteng-Ababio, Arguello and Gabbay, (2013), “E-Waste is harmful for
human health, particularly to those who are working directly with its in e-waste dumps and end
users”. Researcher also found that e-waste pollution has negative effect on air, that workers in
e-waste dumps and people living in nearby areas' breath in constantly which causes inflammation
& stress which leads to heart disease, DNA damage & possibly even cancer. Giunipero, Hooker
and Denslow, (2012) also describes that electronic waste problem is issue of major concern,
because more than 20 million tons of e-waste are wasted by manufacturing companies every
year. Americans are also responsible for 3.4 million tons of wastage of electronic products every
year. Analysis of data provide clear understanding that developed countries are highly
responsible for continuous rise in problems.
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Study of Tanskanen (2013) concluded that, issues appeared in developed nations and now
extended widely to other r countries in the world. Volume of E-Waste is increasing fast because
consumer technology is changing rapidly and innovation mainly resulted in continuous
obsolescence, thus generating massive amounts of electronic waste products. Study on recycling
plants confirmed that toxic chemicals like heavy metals and POPs have continued to contaminate
surrounding environment. This mainly results in considerable growth of harmful or hazardous
substances in ecosystem that adversely affect human health.
Apart from extensive manufacturing of electronic products, inappropriate disposal and
waste management by manufacturer have also given rise to increase in health & environment
issues. An Ineffective disposal of e-waste has also created major problems and influenced end
users or people to survive in polluted environment. Appropriate waste management practices are
need to be adopted by management in order to resolve issues and exports of e-waste to dumps.
Practices adopted by manufacturers for e-waste management.
In order to mitigate problems, various research have been undertaken by scholars on e-
waste management in order to identify ways which can be adopted by manufacturers. According
to Salman and et.al. (2014), There are many practices have been developed and applied to e-
waste management including LCA (Life cycle assessment), MFA (Material flow analysis), MCA
(Multi criteria analysis) and EPR (extended producer responsibility).
Life cycle assessment
Giunipero, Hooker and Denslow, (2012) describes that, life cycle assessment is an
important tool which is used to design environmental friendly electronic appliances and devices
in terms of well-designed, product development and environment influences. LCA is analysed
as powerful tool for identification of potential environmental impacts in order to manufacture
well-designed products. It is systematic and widely used e-waste management tool which define
environmental impacts categories such as carcinogens, climate change, acidification in order to
improve the performance of products. Govindan and et.al., (2015) argued that e-waste recycling
system and take back were clearly advantageous from an environment perspective as compared
to combustion.
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This work provides clear understanding about environmental influence of e-waste in
previous years was much lower than previous years It is the most effective practices that is
performed by manufacturers in order to reduce wastage and avoid environmental problems.
Material flow analysis
According to Kim, Jang and Lee (2013), MFA is considered to as an important practice
of manufacture which implies to an analytical method used for quantifying the flows and
opening stock of materials or substances in well-defined systems. In this method, it is also
recognised as major tools which is used for consumption of various important materials that
needs to be adopted by management. Herat and Agamuthu, (2012) stated that material flow
analysis helps an organisation in maintaining limited supply of products in market which leads to
reduction in e-waste and less requirement of recycling of products.
Extended producer responsibility
EPR is an environmental policy approach that mainly attributes responsibility towards the
manufacturer and it is also based on polluter’s pays principles. Implementation of environmental
policy will also provide support in management of E-waste and high quality management of
waste at producer's workplace. These waste management techniques are appropriate to resolve
issues and health problems which are faced by end users. Palett, Aiswarya and Jacob (2013)
stated that, various countries like Canada and Europe have used EPR quite differently which has
focus on the product's stewardship and preventions of pollution.
Ways to enable end user to conveniently return their e-waste to manufacturer.
According to Pant and et.al., (2012), as per E-Waste (Management & Handling) Rules,
manufacturers of electronic products and services responsible for establishment their call centre
in order to facilitate end user to communicate with the producers in order to return their products
at the end of life, set up collection centre and take back points to channelize e-waste from the end
users to recycler. However, manufacturers in an organisation are also responsible for the
management or disposal of e-waste during & process of developing products in accordance with
principles of extended producer's responsibility. It is also important for manufacturers to ensure
that e-waste is channelized under system reaches to registered dismantles and recyclers.
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As per the view of de Souza and et.al. (2016), recycling programs can also be applied or
implemented by manufacturers with other corporate in Australia in order to manage e-waste.
These programs will be customized to their specific requirements, whilst balancing compliance,
convenience and cost, through a highly efficient recycling take back programs. In this method,
all electronic products are required to be handed over only to authorized recycler. Re-utilization
of precious materials and plastics from old cell phone rather than making or mining more of
them would save as much energy as flipping off the power to 24000 US homes for an entire year.
Take back policy is also an effective method that enabled users to return their E waste to
manufacturers. Manufacturers needs to adopt strategy or take back policy on purchase of new
products. These manufacture re-use raw materials for the development of new products and
services.
Dasgupta and et.al., (2015), creating incentives is also better way for manufacturers
encourage people to bring back their tools as it was discovered that many manufacturers can hold
on to their old tools. As a result, company can also reuse those material for creating new
products at lower cost. However, organisation can also work with consumers to reduce the plans
that needs to be adopted by management for completion of research. Providing benefits to
customers helps the manufacturer in taking their e-waste to producers and they can also use their
material for completion of work. Kiddee, Naidu and Wong, (2013), argued implementation of
this strategy will tend to raise the expenditure of organisation and provide fewer outputs.
Company needs to adopt recycle programs rather than reuse of old material for developing new
products. From the above analysis, it is clear that implementation of these better ways will help
the end users to conveniently return their products to manufacturers.
Survey on manufacturer have been conducted to analyse the e-waste management
practices adopted by organisation and ways through which these important measures have been
implemented by organisation.
Organisation complied with the laws related to E-Waste management.
Extended producer's responsibility is analysed as important laws which implies that the
manufacturers needs to comply with the laws related to e-waste management such as
environment protection act 1990 (Herat and Agamuthu, 2012). Manufacturers are recognised as
those parties which are responsible for continuous increasing e-waste and influence of this waste
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on environment as well as landfills. Environment protection act provides understanding that
organisation needs to adopt appropriate product life cycle assessment to reduce this waste. It
should also comply with the laws relating to the provisions of health and safety act and create
taking back policies to increase reuse of material of old electronic products.
Re-cycle programs are adopted by manufactures for influencing end users to return their old
products.
As stated by Kim, Jang and Lee, (2013), for attracting end users to return their old
electronic products, the government and manufacturers have introduced take back policy that
helps in completion of tasks and fulfilment of responsibilities. High level of provisions also helps
in completion of research. Major improvements in recycle programs are made by manufacturers
in order to avoid inappropriate disposal of E-waste in landfills. In contrast to this, Palett,
Aiswarya and Jacob (2013) viewed that manufacturers need to provide incentives and benefits
to their customers in order to influence customers to avoid e-waste. Spreading about the problem
among the public will provide support in encouraging them to return their products old products
to retailer in exchange while purchasing new products. The key principles waste implies to
correct segregation, storage and disposal and documentation of e-waste. This is also analysed
major legislation governing the disposal of waste. It is also needs to comply with the hierarchy of
waste management.
Life cycle assessment method has been adopted for e-waste management by manufacturers.
As per the view of Palett, Aiswarya and Jacob (2013), life cycle assessment is the major method
which has provided major influence on manufacturers to plan their production and distribution of
products and services in market. For avoiding this e-waste issues manufacturers have also taken
effective measures. As per analysis, all electronic products manufacturing organisation in UK
and other developed nations has implemented strategies to provide contract to other authorized
recyclers and dismantles in country for disposal of unnecessary e-waste.
CONCLUSION
From the above analysis, it is concluded that e-waste is most emerging problems which
has major influence on the environment and health of human beings. With the continuous
technological advancement, life of electronic products has been decreased continuously. This
factors have reduced the usage of electronic products and increase disposal. This increase in e-
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waste has influence on people living in key electronic dump areas and workers. Further,
manufacturers are responsible to adopt an effective measure in order to enable users to return
their e-waste.
These effective manufacturers have focus on completion of an effective measure which
helps in reducing disposal electronic wastage in appropriate manner. Ineffective production
management and wastage of raw materials have also influenced manufacturers operations. Life
cycle assessments and Extended consumer's responsibility are the two main approaches used by
manufacturers for reduction E-waste. These important measures need to be adopted by
management for completion of research. Take back policy is also an effective method that
enabled users to return their E waste to manufacturers. Manufacture needs to adopt take back
policy for collecting old products from customers as it helps in reducing e-waste.
RECOMMENDATIONS
There are various important measures that have been undertaken by companies and
government in order to reduce e-waste across the countries. Re-cycle programs are organized by
government have been carried out by manufacturer with other corporate for influencing people to
provide old electronic products. Along with these methods, government and manufacturers also
needs n develop focus on increasing awareness among people about the influence of e-waste on
environment and health. They also need to re- design their laws regarding management of e-
waste which helps in influencing manufacturers of electronic products and appliances. In the
way, research provides clear understanding that E- waste in major problem as it contaminates the
environment, soil and water bodies. Government and other regulation authorities are also
responsible for taking corrective actions. Appropriate disposal systems must be developed for
reduction of E-waste.
Appropriate e-waste management must be implemented at manufacturing plants to reduce
disposal of electronic products in landfills. Proper monitoring and reports from electronic
manufacturers are required to be taken for resolving these problems.
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QUESTIONNAIRE
1. Does your organisation complied with the laws related to E-Waste management?
 Yes
 No
 Not Sure
2. Does your company have organised Re-cycle programs for influencing end users to
return their old products?
 Yes
 No
 Not Sure
3. From the above, which method you have adopted for e-waste management at
workplace?
 Life cycle assessment
 Material flow analysis
 Extended producer responsibility
 Multi criteria analysis
4. Does your company have focus on increasing awareness among end users about
problems of e-waste?
 Yes
 No
 Not sure
5. Does your organisation create partnership with retailers for collecting old products?
 Yes
 No
 Not sure
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Dasgupta, D. and et.al, 2015. Present E-waste Handling and Disposal Scenario in India:
Planning for Future Management.
De Souza and et.al., 2016. Sustainability assessment and prioritisation of e-waste management
options in Brazil. Waste management. 57. pp.46-56.
Giunipero, L.C., Hooker, R.E. and Denslow, D., 2012. Purchasing and supply management
sustainability: Drivers and barriers. Journal of Purchasing and Supply Management.
18(4). pp.258-269.
Govindan, K. and et.al., 2015. Multi criteria decision making approaches for green supplier
evaluation and selection: a literature review. Journal of Cleaner Production. 98. pp.66-
83.
Herat, S. and Agamuthu, P., 2012. E-waste: a problem or an opportunity? Review of issues,
challenges and solutions in Asian countries. Waste Management & Research. 30(11).
pp.1113-1129.
Kiddee, P., Naidu, R. and Wong, M.H., 2013. Electronic waste management approaches: An
overview. Waste Management. 33(5). pp.1237-1250.
Kim, M., Jang, Y.C. and Lee, S., 2013. Application of Delphi-AHP methods to select the
priorities of WEEE for recycling in a waste management decision-making tool. Journal
of environmental management. 128. pp.941-948.
Marshall, R.E. and Farahbakhsh, K., 2013. Systems approaches to integrated solid waste
management in developing countries. Waste Management. 33(4). pp.988-1003.
Oteng-Ababio, M., Arguello, J.E.M. and Gabbay, O., 2013. Solid waste management in African
cities: Sorting the facts from the fads in Accra, Ghana. Habitat International. 39. pp.96-
104.
Palett, A.D., Aiswarya, S. and Jacob, P., 2013, December. E-WASTE MANAGEMENT. In
National Seminar on Green Environment Theme: Waste Management December 17th-
18th, 2013 (p. 74).
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Pant, D., Joshi, D., Upreti, M.K. and Kotnala, R.K., 2012. Chemical and biological extraction of
metals present in E waste: a hybrid technology. Waste management. 32(5). pp.979-990.
Salman, R.A.S., Beller, E., Kagan, J., Hemminki, E., Phillips, R.S., Savulescu, J., Macleod, M.,
Wisely, J. and Chalmers, I., 2014. Increasing value and reducing waste in biomedical
research regulation and management. The Lancet. 383(9912). pp.176-185.
Tanskanen, P., 2013. Management and recycling of electronic waste. Acta materialia. 61(3).
pp.1001-1011.
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