H2020Индивидуална стипендия2019–2021

E-Waste Challenge · Tackling the Electronic Waste Challenge in Emerging Economies

„Хоризонт 2020“ — Действия „Мария Склодовска-Кюри“

Период: 2019-04-01 → 2021-03-31
Финансиране от ЕС: 178 320 €
Участници: 1
Схема: MSCA-IF

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Накратко на български

Електронните отпадъци в развиващите се икономики се анализират чрез изследване на неефективните политики за управление на токсични компоненти и ценни метали. Това помага за намаляване на рисковете за здравето на хората и опасността за околната среда.

Този кратък обзор е генериран от изкуствен интелект

Кратко обяснение, генерирано от езиков модел по текста на CORDIS. Оригиналът е по-долу.

Резултати накратко

Tackling the Electronic Waste Challenge in Emerging Economies

Electronic waste (E-waste) is one of the fastest growing waste streams in the world today. It is a complex waste category comprising of both hazardous chemicals and valuable metal components. While the presence of precious metals provides incentives for lucrative E-waste recycling businesses in emerging economies and developing countries, the hazardous chemical components of E-waste pose serious threats to the environment and human health if not meticulously managed. In many countries in the Global South, people in the so-called ‘informal sector’ recover metals from E-waste with primitive methods that are damaging to their health and the environment alike. Involvement of women and children in informal E-waste recycling further aggravates the E-waste management concerns. Therefore, a major challenge for the current research community is to find effective (policy) solutions towards ensuring sustainable management of E-waste, particularly in the emerging economies. It is because of the fact that these countries today represent some of the world’s largest economies and are experiencing a faster growth rate as compared to many developed countries. With considerable volumes of E-waste generated, effective management of this toxic waste stream in these countries will contribute in successful handling of the overall global E-waste management crisis. Further, effective E-waste governance is a crucial element of creating a circular economy. However, knowledge gaps on how to achieve this goal persist. Accordingly, it is essential to focus on responsible E-waste management and policy responses. During my Marie Skłodowska Curie postdoctoral fellowship, I analysed why emerging economies adopt E-waste policies that seem inadequate and ineffective in their local contexts. I explained and evaluated the design, adoption, and implementation of E-waste policies in emerging economies. India and South Africa were considered as representative of the emerging economies. The research paid particular attention to relevant factors such as the informal sector, consumer behaviour, socio-economic culture, government capacity etc. Essentially, experts and consumers were considered as actors central to effective E-waste governance.

Текст от CORDIS, на английски · Данни: CORDIS, © Европейски съюз

Цел на проекта

Electronic waste (E-waste) or waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is one of the fastest growing waste streams in the world today. It is a complex stream of waste as it contains both hazardous chemicals and valuable/precious metal components. A major challenge for the research community, therefore, is to find effective (policy) solutions for addressing the environmental and health problems caused by E-waste management in low and mid-income countries while, at the same time, enhancing the recovery of precious metals to reuse these resources. During my Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellowship, I will analyse why emerging economies adopt E-waste policies that seem inadequate and ineffective in their local contexts and identify alternative approaches. In a first step, I will develop a novel analytical framework to analyse the effectiveness of E-waste policies in emerging economies and, as a second step, I will seek to explain the degree of effectiveness of E-waste policies in India and South Africa. The research aims to make conceptual, empirical and policy-relevant contributions: I strive to contribute to the academic literature by developing a novel analytical framework that helps evaluate E-waste policies in non-Western countries. Current literature on E-waste is largely based on assumptions derived from Western policies, polities and societies. By analysing the cases of India and South Africa, my research will focus on two countries whose E-waste policy has hardly been analysed. The findings of the project will provide insights that both the EU and non-European policymakers can use in their decision- making. The EU has a keen interest in supporting non-EU countries tackle their E-waste challenges through effective policies, especially since parts of the E-waste that causes problems in those countries originates from the EU and is a direct result of European consumption. I will contribute to the understanding of how such EU support could be designed.

Оригинален текст от CORDIS (на английски).

Участници

KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVEN · LeuvenКоординаторБелгия