Abstract:
This
paper presents a decision support tool for manufacturers and recyclers
towards end-of-life strategies for waste electrical and electronic
equipment. A mathematical formulation based on the cost benefit analysis
concept is herein analytically described in order to determine the
parts and/or components of an obsolete product that should be either
non-destructively recovered for reuse or be recycled. The framework
optimally determines the depth of disassembly for a given product,
taking into account economic considerations. On this basis, it embeds
all relevant cost elements to be included in the decision-making
process, such as recovered materials and (depreciated) parts/components,
labor costs, energy consumption, equipment depreciation, quality
control and warehousing. This tool can be part of the strategic
decision-making process in order to maximize profitability or minimize
end-of-life management costs. A case study to demonstrate the models’
applicability is presented for a typical electronic product in terms of
structure and material composition. Taking into account the market
values of the pilot product’s components, the manual disassembly is
proven profitable with the marginal revenues from recovered reusable
materials to be estimated at 2.93–23.06 €, depending on the level of
disassembly.
The E-waste centre of Agbogbloshie, Ghana, where electronic waste is burnt and disassembled
Highlights:
►
A mathematical modeling tool for OEMs.
► The tool can be used by OEMs, recyclers of electr(on)ic equipment or WEEE management systems’ regulators.
► The tool makes use of cost–benefit analysis in order to determine the optimal depth of product disassembly.
► The tool can be used by OEMs, recyclers of electr(on)ic equipment or WEEE management systems’ regulators.
► The tool makes use of cost–benefit analysis in order to determine the optimal depth of product disassembly.
► The reusable
materials and the quantity of metals and plastics recycled can be
quantified in an easy-to-comprehend manner.
by Ch. Achillasa, 
, 
, D. Aidonisb, Ch. Vlachokostasc, A. Karagiannidisc, N. Moussiopoulosc and V. Loulosc
, , D. Aidonisb, Ch. Vlachokostasc, A. Karagiannidisc, N. Moussiopoulosc and V. Loulosc
a School
of Economics & Business Administration, International Hellenic
University, 14th km Thessaloniki-Moudania, 57001 Thermi, Greece; Tel.: +30 2310 807545; fax: +30 2310 474569.
b Department of Logistics, Alexander Technological Educational Institute, Branch of Katerini, 60100 Katerini, Greece
c Laboratory
of Heat Transfer and Environmental Engineering, Department of
Mechanical Engineering, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Box 483,
54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Volume 33, Issue 4, April 2013, Pages 948–956
Keywords: WEEE; Mathematical modeling; Manual dismantling; Level of disassembly; Cost accounting; Reuse; Recycling
No comments:
Post a Comment