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Upscaling Electronics Repair to Support a Circular Economy in Sweden: A Focus on Cellphones Through the Lens of Policy Intervention

Chikowero, Rumbidzai LU (2021) In IIIEE Master Thesis IMEM01 20211
The International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics
Abstract
E-waste is a growing waste problem around the world, and Sweden is no exception. However, the Swedish WEEE system is having issues combating the problem – particularly when it comes to cellphones. The aim of this research is to develop an understanding of the Swedish WEEE system in practice when it comes to cellphones, to explore what benefits actors in the Swedish system reap from choices to repair or recycle cellphones, and to gain an understanding of which actors receive those benefits from repairing or recycling cellphones in Sweden. This research was in collaboration with the Swedish Ministry of the Environment. My three research questions were: (1) How does the Swedish WEEE system function in practice when it comes to cellphones? (2)... (More)
E-waste is a growing waste problem around the world, and Sweden is no exception. However, the Swedish WEEE system is having issues combating the problem – particularly when it comes to cellphones. The aim of this research is to develop an understanding of the Swedish WEEE system in practice when it comes to cellphones, to explore what benefits actors in the Swedish system reap from choices to repair or recycle cellphones, and to gain an understanding of which actors receive those benefits from repairing or recycling cellphones in Sweden. This research was in collaboration with the Swedish Ministry of the Environment. My three research questions were: (1) How does the Swedish WEEE system function in practice when it comes to cellphones? (2) What benefits do actors in WEEE gain from participating in the repair of cellphones vs the recycling of cellphones? and (3) What actors benefit from choices to repair cellphones vs recycle those cellphones in Sweden? The methods of data collection were semi-structured interviews and audio-visual materials. I collected interview data and web-materials. My methods of data analysis were synthesis matrixes and computer-assisted content analysis. My study had 11 thematic findings. When these findings were put into the context of existing research, I made several insights: (1) When it comes to phones, Sweden’s WEEE system is complicated, (2) Understanding of the phone repair benefits-actors dynamic has been improved, (3) Understanding of the phone recycle benefits-actors dynamic has been improved. And lastly, I found that actors are invested in (4) The future of repair and overcoming obstacles to repair. In conclusion, Sweden’s WEEE system is complicated, as are the dynamics surrounding “benefits and actors” in phone repair and recycling. Future research could explore what complex value actors in the Swedish WEEE system gain from recycling cellphones vs repairing them. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Chikowero, Rumbidzai LU
supervisor
organization
course
IMEM01 20211
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Sweden, cellphone repair, cellphone recycling, benefits, actors, circular economy, policy intervention, WEEE, repair transition, e-waste
publication/series
IIIEE Master Thesis
report number
2021.17
ISSN
1401-9191
language
English
id
9062773
date added to LUP
2021-08-12 17:14:09
date last changed
2021-08-12 17:14:09
@misc{9062773,
  abstract     = {{E-waste is a growing waste problem around the world, and Sweden is no exception. However, the Swedish WEEE system is having issues combating the problem – particularly when it comes to cellphones. The aim of this research is to develop an understanding of the Swedish WEEE system in practice when it comes to cellphones, to explore what benefits actors in the Swedish system reap from choices to repair or recycle cellphones, and to gain an understanding of which actors receive those benefits from repairing or recycling cellphones in Sweden. This research was in collaboration with the Swedish Ministry of the Environment. My three research questions were: (1) How does the Swedish WEEE system function in practice when it comes to cellphones? (2) What benefits do actors in WEEE gain from participating in the repair of cellphones vs the recycling of cellphones? and (3) What actors benefit from choices to repair cellphones vs recycle those cellphones in Sweden? The methods of data collection were semi-structured interviews and audio-visual materials. I collected interview data and web-materials. My methods of data analysis were synthesis matrixes and computer-assisted content analysis. My study had 11 thematic findings. When these findings were put into the context of existing research, I made several insights: (1) When it comes to phones, Sweden’s WEEE system is complicated, (2) Understanding of the phone repair benefits-actors dynamic has been improved, (3) Understanding of the phone recycle benefits-actors dynamic has been improved. And lastly, I found that actors are invested in (4) The future of repair and overcoming obstacles to repair. In conclusion, Sweden’s WEEE system is complicated, as are the dynamics surrounding “benefits and actors” in phone repair and recycling. Future research could explore what complex value actors in the Swedish WEEE system gain from recycling cellphones vs repairing them.}},
  author       = {{Chikowero, Rumbidzai}},
  issn         = {{1401-9191}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  series       = {{IIIEE Master Thesis}},
  title        = {{Upscaling Electronics Repair to Support a Circular Economy in Sweden: A Focus on Cellphones Through the Lens of Policy Intervention}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}