Browsing by Subject "Electronic waste"

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    COST EFFECTIVENESS OF AN ELECTRONIC WASTE RECYCLING PROGRAM FOR HARNETT COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA
    (2007-05) Kusmanov, Dastan
    Widespread use of electronics in business and residential settings has created a problem of electronic waste disposal, when the electronics are discarded at the end of their useful life. Recognized as hazardous waste for the heavy metals contained in them, electronic discards are managed as such only if generated by businesses. In the absence of federal regulations for household electronic waste in the United States and state regulations in North Carolina, the electronic waste problem could be addressed at the county level. One of the options a policy-maker faces is to establish an e-waste collection and recycling program at the local landfill, thus offering residents the means to recycle their e-waste. In this master’s project I estimate the costs of establishing an e-waste recycling program in Harnett County, North Carolina. The results allow a policy maker to compare the costs of a local electronic waste recycling program to the costs of current recycling programs offered by major electronics producers, or the benefits from diverting electronic waste from local landfills. The information on costs of the program also provides estimates of the amount of funds that the county would need to run the program, or the amount of tax or purchase fee that could be imposed to provide funds for the program
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    Off-Grid Solar E-Waste: Impacts and Solutions in East Africa
    (2019-04-25) Balasubramanian, Sneha; Clare, Dharini; Ko, Sarah
    Electrification is growing rapidly in East Africa, with off-grid photovoltaic capacity projected to reach a 1,000 MW by 2022. This growth is accompanied by an inevitable increase in solar e-waste, potentially reaching 5,000 tons in that time frame. Without proper management, this waste is subject to open dumping or informal treatment by local waste management entities. Both of these potential outcomes pose detrimental environmental and health risks. With the help of existing literature, interviews with industry experts, and a scenario planning exercise, this project aimed to identify business and policy-based recommendations to plan for this growth in electrification. The analysis focused on lanterns as well as small and large solar home systems. Based on the financial value of the materials that could be derived from recycling these products, our results show that refurbishment and repair is currently the more feasible end-of-life management option. The main recommendation for the off-grid solar sector involves collaboration between producers, in a pre-competitive space, that focuses on consumer education, modular design, and investment in product take-back infrastructure and recycling technologies. A complementary policy would require device producers to be responsible for the end-of-life management of their products.