Improving waste recovery of ICT from a Sectoral System of Innovation perspective

Abstract

IT and telecommunications equipment (ICT) is one of the fastest growing consumer product groups worldwide. With the increasing numbers of ICT put on market new challenges occur for the pro-cessing of discarded ICT. In recent years, waste management has become a topic of interest for the European Union, which has set up an agenda to promote a circular economy in its member states. In support of this agenda, this thesis determines the barriers and drivers that hamper or incite the recovery of ICT in the Netherlands and identifies opportunities for improvement. To this extent, a mixed method approach was employed. A Material Flow Analysis was conducted to identify current malpractices in recovery, and losses of (ICT) materials in the Netherlands. A conceptual framework, derived from a Sectoral System of Innovation perspective, was used to identify what hampers or incites the recovery of ICT. The MFA found that for roughly 35% of discarded ICT it is uncertain whether it will be properly processed. From the barriers identification, it is concluded that consum-er preferences and behaviors, producers’ product design considerations, regulatory design and a lacking infrastructure for the proper recovery of non-metal parts of ICT are the most prolific barri-ers. Introduction of benchmarks and increased adoption of so-called new business models are found to drive improvements in ICT recovery. Following these results, the thesis drafts several managerial and policy recommendations on how to improve waste recovery.