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Electrical and electronic waste (e-waste) recycling and management strategies in South Asian region: a systematic review from Sri Lankan context

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Abstract

Electrical and electronic waste (e-waste) has become a global crisis. Managing this ever-growing problem has become very critical and yet challenging, especially in the South Asian region; otherwise, it may undermine the sustainability of development and growth of numerous industries. Hence, to explore the current context of e-waste management, recycling, and strategies in Sri Lanka, we conducted a systematic literature review process using peer-reviewed research articles retrieved from Google Scholar Database. We searched for articles containing keywords such as “e-waste”, “management strategies and recycling”, and “Sri Lanka”. We screened out papers (n = 20) selected from papers (n = 327) initially retrieved over a 17 period of time (2005–2022). The analysis of the screened articles showed that the main challenges to successful e-waste management were a lack of management strategies, policies, and inadequate recycling practices as well as identifying the potential and opportunities to actively enhance the comprehensive awareness, collection, storage, proper disposal, and other e-waste management steps in Sri Lanka. Further, the study identified technological, financial, socio-economic, and institutional sectors as fundamental sectors to formulate a strategic plan for e-waste management. Also, the study suggests that enacting laws to practice and adopt e-waste management, establishing central command and management institutes to control all e-waste management bodies, providing financial assistance to informal e-waste collectors and recyclers, and introducing e-waste management to school curricula are some of the possible actions that can be taken along with enhancing the awareness of  e-waste management.

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Acknowledgements

We convey our sincere thanks to Mr. Supun Madhumadhawa Pawuluwage for supporting us.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Engineering and Mathematics, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, S1 1WB, UK

    Shakya Widanapathirana

  2. Department of Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna, Mapalana, Matara, 81100, Sri Lanka

    Iddamalgoda Jayawardanage Judi Udari Nisansala Perera & Bellanthudawage Kushan Aravinda Bellanthudawa

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  1. Shakya Widanapathirana
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SW: conceptualization, methodology, data extraction, writing, IJJUNP: methodology, data extraction, writing, and reviewing the final draft, BKAB: conceptualization, methodology, writing and reviewing the final draft.

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Correspondence to Iddamalgoda Jayawardanage Judi Udari Nisansala Perera.

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Widanapathirana, S., Perera, I.J.J.U.N. & Bellanthudawa, B.K.A. Electrical and electronic waste (e-waste) recycling and management strategies in South Asian region: a systematic review from Sri Lankan context. Waste Dispos. Sustain. Energy 5, 559–575 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42768-023-00162-2

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