Prospecting reusable small electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) in distinct anthropogenic spaces
Prospecting reusable small electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) in distinct anthropogenic spaces
The generation of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) continues to escalate yearly because of high demand for state-of-the-art and affordable devices. This demand is particularly strong for small consumer electrical and electronic equipment whose usage cycle is waning due to fashion and technological obsolescence. As a result, there is potentially a large ‘pool’ of unused, reusable devices within urban spaces (anthroposphere). This study aimed to assess the magnitude of the reusable stock of EEE with the view to recovery and release into the circular economy. An online questionnaire survey was conducted within a regional group of universities in the United Kingdom to assess the prospects of reusable small EEE within this distinct urban mine (DUM) cluster. The study provides new, distinct definitions for types of DUM, hoarding and stockpiling, and new data for a ‘meso-level’ DUM on ownership levels and hibernating stocks of reusable EEE. Results show that ownership levels were high, with multiple ownership of devices common and a high degree of product stockpiling and hoarding. Estimates show a stockpile of ~400,000 small EEE within the survey zone and over 17 million devices across the UK with reuse values of >£13 million and >£571 million, respectively. The frequency of device stockpiling is likely due to perceived residual value. The study suggests that exploitation of reuse value requires prompt recovery of stockpiled items as extended periods in hibernation will result in technical obsolescence, particularly with information and communication technology (ICT) devices. Such recovery requires tailored protocols that considers DUM scale, product reusability, recyclability and redistribution.
Circular economy, Distinct urban mine, Reuse, Small EEE, Urban mining, WEEE
Shittu, Olanrewaju Sheriff
faaa3663-4cad-4f5a-877a-e935534050b1
Williams, Ian
c9d674ac-ee69-4937-ab43-17e716266e22
Shaw, Peter
935dfebf-9fb6-483c-86da-a21dba8c1989
1 January 2022
Shittu, Olanrewaju Sheriff
faaa3663-4cad-4f5a-877a-e935534050b1
Williams, Ian
c9d674ac-ee69-4937-ab43-17e716266e22
Shaw, Peter
935dfebf-9fb6-483c-86da-a21dba8c1989
Shittu, Olanrewaju Sheriff, Williams, Ian and Shaw, Peter
(2022)
Prospecting reusable small electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) in distinct anthropogenic spaces.
Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 176, [105908].
(doi:10.1016/j.resconrec.2021.105908).
Abstract
The generation of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) continues to escalate yearly because of high demand for state-of-the-art and affordable devices. This demand is particularly strong for small consumer electrical and electronic equipment whose usage cycle is waning due to fashion and technological obsolescence. As a result, there is potentially a large ‘pool’ of unused, reusable devices within urban spaces (anthroposphere). This study aimed to assess the magnitude of the reusable stock of EEE with the view to recovery and release into the circular economy. An online questionnaire survey was conducted within a regional group of universities in the United Kingdom to assess the prospects of reusable small EEE within this distinct urban mine (DUM) cluster. The study provides new, distinct definitions for types of DUM, hoarding and stockpiling, and new data for a ‘meso-level’ DUM on ownership levels and hibernating stocks of reusable EEE. Results show that ownership levels were high, with multiple ownership of devices common and a high degree of product stockpiling and hoarding. Estimates show a stockpile of ~400,000 small EEE within the survey zone and over 17 million devices across the UK with reuse values of >£13 million and >£571 million, respectively. The frequency of device stockpiling is likely due to perceived residual value. The study suggests that exploitation of reuse value requires prompt recovery of stockpiled items as extended periods in hibernation will result in technical obsolescence, particularly with information and communication technology (ICT) devices. Such recovery requires tailored protocols that considers DUM scale, product reusability, recyclability and redistribution.
Text
RECYCL-D-21-01410_R1
Available under License Other.
More information
Accepted/In Press date: 3 September 2021
Published date: 1 January 2022
Additional Information:
Funding Information:
The authors would like to thank Izzy Housego (University of Southampton), Sion Donovan (University of Portsmouth) and Anthony Courtney (University of Winchester) for providing online survey distribution support.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021
Keywords:
Circular economy, Distinct urban mine, Reuse, Small EEE, Urban mining, WEEE
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 467936
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/467936
ISSN: 0921-3449
PURE UUID: 4363aeee-5776-481b-8ffc-7002bf87af13
Catalogue record
Date deposited: 26 Jul 2022 16:36
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 03:01
Export record
Altmetrics
Contributors
Author:
Olanrewaju Sheriff Shittu
Download statistics
Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.
View more statistics