Economics of end-of-life materials recover : a study of small appliances and computer devices in Portugal
type: CreativeWork
description: The challenges brought on by the increasing complexity of electronic products, and the criticality of the materials these devices contain, present an opportunity for maximizing the economic and societal benefits derived from recovery and recycling. Small appliances and computer devices (SACD), including mobile phones, contain significant amounts of precious metals including gold and platinum, the present value of which should serve as a key economic driver for many recycling decisions. However, a detailed analysis is required to estimate the economic value that is unrealized by incomplete recovery of these and other materials, and to ascertain how such value could be reinvested to improve recovery processes. I present a dynamic product flow analysis (dPFA) for SACD throughout Portugal, a European Union member, including annual data detailing product sales and industrial-scale preprocessing data for recovery of specific materials from devices. I employ preprocessing facility and metals pricing data to identify losses, and develop an economic framework around the value of recycling including uncertainty. I show that significant economic losses occur during preprocessing (over $70M USD unrecovered in computers and mobile phones, 2006-2014) due to operations that fail to target high value materials, and characterize preprocessing operations according to material recovery and total costs. Finally, I present market level, operational, and policy recommendations aimed at capturing the unrecovered economic value identified in the Portuguese WEEE recycling system.
abstract: The challenges brought on by the increasing complexity of electronic products, and the criticality of the materials these devices contain, present an opportunity for maximizing the economic and societal benefits derived from recovery and recycling. Small appliances and computer devices (SACD), including mobile phones, contain significant amounts of precious metals including gold and platinum, the present value of which should serve as a key economic driver for many recycling decisions. However, a detailed analysis is required to estimate the economic value that is unrealized by incomplete recovery of these and other materials, and to ascertain how such value could be reinvested to improve recovery processes. I present a dynamic product flow analysis (dPFA) for SACD throughout Portugal, a European Union member, including annual data detailing product sales and industrial-scale preprocessing data for recovery of specific materials from devices. I employ preprocessing facility and metals pricing data to identify losses, and develop an economic framework around the value of recycling including uncertainty. I show that significant economic losses occur during preprocessing (over $70M USD unrecovered in computers and mobile phones, 2006-2014) due to operations that fail to target high value materials, and characterize preprocessing operations according to material recovery and total costs. Finally, I present market level, operational, and policy recommendations aimed at capturing the unrecovered economic value identified in the Portuguese WEEE recycling system.
author: Ford, Patrick (Patrick Benjamin)
language: eng
keywords: Institute for Data, Systems, and Society., Engineering Systems Division., Technology and Policy Program.
license: http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582
date published: 2016
date modified: 2026-07-22T22:21:01Z
provider: MIT
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

PropertyValue
property ID: Handle
value: http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/104831