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Unimagined Futures – ICT Opportunities and Challenges pp 129–141Cite as

A Resource Perspective on E-Waste: A Global Problem with Local Solutions?

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Part of the book series: IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology ((Festschrifts,volume 555))

Abstract

ICT is, at least to some extent, material, and different phases of the ICT lifecycle present us with different challenges related to the physical properties of ICT. E-waste is a term used to describe discarded electronic and electrical equipment that is neither reused or repaired, nor refurbished. While it is clear that e-waste is currently mainly a big social and environmental problem, we also see opportunities in re-introducing materials from existing e-waste into the ICT supply chain. Although e-waste is a pressing problem, it can also be seen as, and become a resource. The shift in perspective required is towards a life-cycle perspective on all materials in the production, marketing, and end-of-life processes of ICT artefacts. A combination of Design for Repairability and End-of-life Design can contribute to a set of electronics design guidelines that would meet circular economy principles.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National University of Ireland Galway, University Road, Galway, H91 TK33, Ireland

    David Kreps

  2. Uppsala University Ångströmlaboratoriet, Lägerhyddsvägen 1, 751 21, Uppsala, Sweden

    Per Fors

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  1. David Kreps
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  2. Per Fors
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Correspondence to David Kreps .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. De Nederlandsche Bank, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Leon Strous

  2. Birkbeck University of London, London, UK

    Roger Johnson

  3. Djaghe LLC, Washington, DC, USA

    David Alan Grier

  4. Kingston upon Thames, UK

    Doron Swade

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Kreps, D., Fors, P. (2020). A Resource Perspective on E-Waste: A Global Problem with Local Solutions?. In: Strous, L., Johnson, R., Grier, D.A., Swade, D. (eds) Unimagined Futures – ICT Opportunities and Challenges. IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology(), vol 555. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-64246-4_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-64246-4_11

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-64246-4

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