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Reaping What WEEE Sow: The potential for harvesting spare parts for repair and refurbishment

Richter, Jessika Luth LU ; Svensson-Hoglund, Sahra ; Frolov, Tobias LU ; Dalhammar, Carl LU ; Thidell, Aake LU orcid and Russell, Jennifer (2021) 4th Conference on Product Lifetimes and the Environment (PLATE)
Abstract
A Circular Economy (CE) calls for the value of materials and products to be maintained and recovered through narrowing, closing, and slowing loops. However, there remain challenges in moving up the waste hierarchy and not only recycling materials from products, but also capturing value through reuse of components in refurbished and repaired products. In this paper, we examine the practice of “harvesting” spare parts from discarded white goods and consumer electronics in Norway, Sweden and California. Through literature review and interviews, we examine the sources of WEEE and potential spare parts, the use and markets for harvested spare parts, and the harvesting process itself. We identify key conditions, actors, and barriers and discuss... (More)
A Circular Economy (CE) calls for the value of materials and products to be maintained and recovered through narrowing, closing, and slowing loops. However, there remain challenges in moving up the waste hierarchy and not only recycling materials from products, but also capturing value through reuse of components in refurbished and repaired products. In this paper, we examine the practice of “harvesting” spare parts from discarded white goods and consumer electronics in Norway, Sweden and California. Through literature review and interviews, we examine the sources of WEEE and potential spare parts, the use and markets for harvested spare parts, and the harvesting process itself. We identify key conditions, actors, and barriers and discuss how spare part harvesting could be upscaled to support increasing repair and refurbishment activities, which can increase product lifetimes and reduce waste. (Less)
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author
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organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
host publication
4th PLATE 2021 Conference Proceedings : 4th Conference on Product Lifetimes and the Environment (PLATE) - 4th Conference on Product Lifetimes and the Environment (PLATE)
conference name
4th Conference on Product Lifetimes and the Environment (PLATE)
conference location
Limerick, Ireland
conference dates
2021-05-26 - 2021-05-28
project
Creating a repair society to advance the Circular Economy – policies, networks and people
Circular Economy: capturing value in waste through extended producer responsibility policies
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
732cee7c-7391-4a2e-93bf-93e090004340
alternative location
https://ulir.ul.ie/bitstream/handle/10344/10240/Richter_et_al_2021_Reaping_What_WEEE_Sow.pdf?sequence=2
date added to LUP
2021-07-29 13:10:02
date last changed
2022-03-10 11:42:15
@inproceedings{732cee7c-7391-4a2e-93bf-93e090004340,
  abstract     = {{A Circular Economy (CE) calls for the value of materials and products to be maintained and recovered through narrowing, closing, and slowing loops. However, there remain challenges in moving up the waste hierarchy and not only recycling materials from products, but also capturing value through reuse of components in refurbished and repaired products. In this paper, we examine the practice of “harvesting” spare parts from discarded white goods and consumer electronics in Norway, Sweden and California. Through literature review and interviews, we examine the sources of WEEE and potential spare parts, the use and markets for harvested spare parts, and the harvesting process itself. We identify key conditions, actors, and barriers and discuss how spare part harvesting could be upscaled to support increasing repair and refurbishment activities, which can increase product lifetimes and reduce waste.}},
  author       = {{Richter, Jessika Luth and Svensson-Hoglund, Sahra and Frolov, Tobias and Dalhammar, Carl and Thidell, Aake and Russell, Jennifer}},
  booktitle    = {{4th PLATE 2021 Conference Proceedings : 4th Conference on Product Lifetimes and the Environment (PLATE)}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  title        = {{Reaping What WEEE Sow: The potential for harvesting spare parts for repair and refurbishment}},
  url          = {{https://ulir.ul.ie/bitstream/handle/10344/10240/Richter_et_al_2021_Reaping_What_WEEE_Sow.pdf?sequence=2}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}