| 1. |
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| 2. |
- Peters, Gregory, 1970, et al.
(författare)
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A Swedish comment on ‘review: the availability of life-cycle studies in Sweden’
- 2019
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Ingår i: International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1614-7502 .- 0948-3349. ; 24:10, s. 1758-1759
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The article entitled ‘Review: the availability of life-cycle studies in Sweden’ by Croft and colleagues (January 2019, volume 24, issue 1, pages 6–11) has puzzled many researchers in Sweden. The stated purpose of the article is to review the availability of water and carbon footprinting studies and life-cycle assessment (LCA) studies in Sweden. Despite its title and purpose suggesting otherwise, the article appears to be about the accessibility of life-cycle case studies from Sweden in South Africa. It is problematic that the article claims to be a review in the title and text, but is presented by the journal as a commentary. We believe that the article’s method is unclear and that its title and results are misleading. The authors of the article found only 12 academic papers, 10 academic theses, 8 company reports, and 1 presentation. This result significantly underestimates the actual production and availability of Swedish LCA case studies.
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| 3. |
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| 4. |
- Andersson, Magnus, 1983, et al.
(författare)
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Adoption of Systemic and Socio-Technical Perspectives in Waste Management, WEEE and ELV Research
- 2019
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Ingår i: Sustainability. - : MDPI AG. - 2071-1050. ; 11:6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A greater quantity and variety of materials are being produced worldwide to meet demand for consumer products, buildings and infrastructure. Additionally, highly diffused products such as cars and electronics have become materially complex and depend on numerous scarce metals. Consequently, managing the societal supply of a variety of materials and metals sustainably is becoming increasingly important. This includes the use of efficient and effective waste management. However, the current management of waste in general and of waste consumer products specifically, have been pointed out as requiring significant developments to become more advanced to cope with the increasing material complexity. It has also been pointed out that research taking systems perspectives is crucial to improve waste management. Additionally, researching change processes and the co-evolution of social and technical factors (i.e., socio-technical change), has furthered the understanding of how ‘green’ industries develop in other empirical fields. Consequently, both systemic and socio-technical perspectives are likely relevant to waste management research. We used the Scopus database to search for 31 research approaches associated with such perspectives in journal articles writing about waste management in general, waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) or end-of-life vehicles (ELVs). We conclude that, although the majority of the examined research does not mention the considered approaches, some environmental system analysis approaches are frequently mentioned and show signs of growth in adoption. In contrast, socio-technical approaches are scarcely mentioned. Consequently, we argue that there are relevant scientific tools yet to be adopted in waste management, WEEE and ELV research.
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| 5. |
- Andersson, Magnus, 1983, et al.
(författare)
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Are scarce metals in cars functionally recycled?
- 2017
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Ingår i: Waste Management. - : Elsevier BV. - 0956-053X .- 1879-2456. ; 60, s. 407-416
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Improved recycling of end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) may serve as an important strategy to address resource security risks related to increased global demand for scarce metals. However, in-depth knowledge of the magnitude and fate of such metals entering ELV recycling is lacking. This paper quantifies input of 25 scarce metals to Swedish ELV recycling, and estimates the extent to which they are recycled to material streams where their metal properties are utilised, i.e. are functionally recycled. Methodologically, scarce metals are mapped to main types of applications within newly produced Swedish car models and subsequently, material flow analysis of ELV waste streams is used as basis for identifying pathways of these applications and assessing whether contained metals are functionally recycled. Results indicate that, of the scarce metals, only platinum may be functionally recycled in its main application. Cobalt, gold, manganese, molybdenum, palladium, rhodium and silver may be functionally recycled depending on application and pathways taken. For remaining 17 metals, functional recycling is absent. Consequently, despite high overall ELV recycling rates of materials in general, there is considerable risk of losing ELV scarce metals to carrier metals, construction materials, backfilling materials and landfills. Given differences in the application of metals and identified pathways, prospects for increasing functional recycling are discussed.
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| 6. |
- Andersson, Magnus, 1983, et al.
(författare)
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Challenges of recycling multiple scarce metals: The case of Swedish ELV and WEEE recycling
- 2019
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Ingår i: Resources Policy. - : Elsevier BV. - 0301-4207. ; 63
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Cars and electronic products are characterised by high metal complexity. Meanwhile, recycling industries are not fully aligned with this complexity, leading to losses of unique scarce metal resources. By utilising the technological innovation system framework we identify, and discuss implications of, factors that impact on recycling of some precious (gold, palladium, silver) and minor metals (gallium, tantalum) in printed circuit boards (PCBs) present in Swedish end-of-life cars (ELVs) and waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). We conclude that while precious metals from WEEE PCBs are currently recycled, recycling precious metals from ELV PCBs will likely remain a challenge in the near-term due to recycling being blocked by the material composition of ELV waste, design of waste legislation, and by accumulated capabilities and business models in current recycling industries. However, some of these blocking factors are open to direct influence from national policymakers or industry actors and may thus be alleviated more easily. In contrast, recycling minor metals from ELV or WEEE PCBs will likely remain challenging also in the long-term due to a larger set of blocking factors. Alleviating these may require a substantial portfolio of metal-specific policies at national and supra national levels supporting the build-up of entirely new recycling value chains.
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| 7. |
- Andersson, Magnus, 1983, et al.
(författare)
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Lessons from a century of innovating car recycling value chains
- 2017
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Ingår i: Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions. - : Elsevier BV. - 2210-4224. ; 25, s. 142-157
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs) contain materials that may be beneficial to recycle. While metals such as iron, aluminium and platinum are recycled at high rates, materials such plastics and most scarce metals are recycled at low rates or not at all. Insight into how recycling systems form and develop is limited in current research, but may provide a better understanding for how to increase recycling rates. This paper utilises the technological innovation system framework to identify key functions from 1910 to 2010 that enabled ELV iron recycling in Sweden. Initiatives for improving capabilities to recycle other materials are also discussed. Results indicate that early structural changes in the steel industry were crucial. Subsequently, ELV iron could be utilised by this industry through build-up of an increasingly specialised ELV system. We argue that reproducing the key functions that enabled ELV iron recycling may serve to increase recycling rates also of other ELV materials.
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| 8. |
- Andersson, Magnus, 1983, et al.
(författare)
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Mapping the content and fates of scarce metals in discarded cars
- 2016
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Ingår i: Life Cycle Assessment and Other Assessment Tools for Waste Management and Resource Optimization.
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- A great variety of current products make use of components or materials (e.g. electronics, steel and aluminium alloys) that utilise increasing amounts of ‘critical’ or scarce metals (SM). For example, design trends for cars point at increasing SM utilisation in order for regulatory, business and consumer requirements on environmental performance, safety, costs, comfort and infotainment to be met. Modern cars now hold SM in substantial amounts, i.e. the circa one billion cars in use worldwide today, constitute a significant near-term secondary SM resource. However, current end-of-life vehicle (ELV) recycling is mainly aimed at isolating hazardous contents, dismantling spare parts and recycling bulk metals. There is thus a clear risk that ELV SM are not functionally recycled and thus lost for further use.Assessments of the opportunities for increased functional recycling require estimates of SM content of discarded cars and individual waste flows in ELV recycling. However, information on both is limited. Data related to cars is sparse, and challenged by the large range and age span of discarded car brands and models. Measurements of SM in waste flows are few and cover a limited range of SM. Consequently, available data does not allow us to quantify with precision the SM contents of discarded cars reaching the ELV recycling system, or map individual metal flows within it.Instead, our approach relies on mapping 25 ELV SM to main types of applications within three newly produced car models using automotive industry data (International Material Data System, IMDS), and letting these models represent the ELV fleet so that the annual input magnitudes of SM to ELV management can be estimated. Subsequently, we employ material flow analysis of ELV waste streams as basis for identifying potential pathways of these main applications, and the extent to which contained metals may reach processes capable of functional recycling. The approach allows us to qualitatively distinguish subsets of systems flows holding groups of SM, and discuss the potential for functional recycling.Using Swedish ELV management as a case, we conclude that only platinum may be functionally recycled in its main application. Cobalt, gold, manganese, molybdenum, palladium, rhodium and silver may be functionally recycled depending on application and pathways taken. For remaining 17 metals, functional recycling is lacking. Consequently, there is considerable risk of losing SM with current ELV procedures. Given differences in the application of metals and identified pathways, strategies for improving recycling and resource security are considered. Moreover, our case illustrates the considerable challenge, posed by the complexity and range of car configurations and the sparsity of information on SM, to closer assess recycling strategies and advance secondary SM resource utilisation.
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| 9. |
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| 10. |
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| 11. |
- Andersson, Magnus, 1983, et al.
(författare)
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Scarce metals in Swedish end-of-life vehicle recycling
- 2014
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Ingår i: Proceedings of Second Symposium on Urban Mining, Bergamo, Italy.
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Improved recycling of end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) may serve as an important strategy to address short-term supply risks and long-term scarcity issues related to increased global demand of scarce metals. Current European ELV policy does not provide direct incentives for increased scarce metal resource security as it is not aimed specifically at scarce metals. This paper aims to screen the opportunities for scarce metal recycling from vehicles by quantifying the orders of magnitude of near-future scarce metal flows in Swedish ELV recycling. Results point to a lack of dedicated domestic scarce metal recycling capabilities, posing considerable risk of near-future annual losses of single figure tonnes of gold and tantalum, and tens of tonnes of niobium and neodymium. Given plausible differences in scale and of characteristics of losses, a diversity of recycling strategies is proposed if functionality of recycling and availability of scarce metals are to be improved.
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| 12. |
- André, Hampus, 1989, et al.
(författare)
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Circular Economy as a Means to Efficient Use of Scarce Metals
- 2016
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Ingår i: 2016 Electronics Goes Green 2016+, EGG 2016. - 9781509052080
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Scarce metals are increasingly used in modern technology, but significant quantities are lost for further functionaluse in recycling. This study investigates if other measures for a more resource-efficient and “circular economy”(CE) can increase efficiency of scarce metal use. Three CE alternatives, inspired by real business solutions forproviding lighting, notebooks and smartphones are compared with respective conventional alternatives, using materialflow analysis. Scarce metal efficiency gains are primarily realized by extending the use phase of products orcomponents. However, the extension must be sufficient in order not to be cancelled out by any additional scarcemetals that enable the extension. Furthermore, losses of scarce metals occur whenever components are replaced.Therefore, CE alternatives may not necessarily improve efficiency of scarce metals use. Advances to functionallyrecycle scarce metals and designs that enable components and products to be kept in functional use for longer areneeded.
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| 13. |
- André, Hampus, 1989, et al.
(författare)
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Effects on metal resource use from reusing laptops - A comparison of impact assessment methods
- 2018
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Proposed measures of the circular economy are assumed to be environmentally favourable but there is limited empirical evidence on how this actually works in practice or if it is true. A life cycle-based approach has been argued useful for critical assessment of circular economy measures. In life cycle assessment, several perceptions exist regarding what the environmental problem with metal resource use consists of, manifesting in differing impact assessment methods. Since these methods have been shown to give diverging results it is plausible that the choice of LCIA-method could have significant implications for the assessment of circular economy for products such as laptops. Except for recycling, there are no comparative assessment studies of circular economy measures that deploy complementary LCIA-methods on metal resource use. A life cycle assessment was conducted studying reuse as mediated by a resale and refurbishment company, using several LCIA-methods in parallel. This served to find which metals that are important in laptops depending on LCIA-method and how metals may benefit from reuse. Second-hand laptops were deemed functionally equivalent to new ones. Reuse was assumed to double product lifetime of 70% of sourced laptops to six years in total. In EoL, recycled metals were assumed to displace respective primary production. The LCA study shows that reuse of laptops contributed to resource-efficiency in two principal ways: firstly, through the intended use extension (41% reduction compared to new laptops) and secondly, by steering material flows, i.e. laptops that cannot be reused, into recycling. This increased recycling was found especially important according to some LCIA-methods (varying between 1-9% reduction compared to new laptops) which characterise metals that are functionally recycled as important (typically methods using average crustal concentrations as part of their characterisation factors) and negligible in others (typically using reserves as part of their characterisation factors). Some metals have visible contributions in all methods and are unlikely missed if only using one LCIA-method. Other metals are visibly contributing in one or a few methods and thereby risk getting missed in such cases. It is therefore advisable to use complementary methods to minimise risks of overlooking relevant metal resource use aspects when studying circular economy measures for electronics.
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| 14. |
- André, Hampus, 1989, et al.
(författare)
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Resource and environmental impacts of using second-hand laptop computers: A case study of commercial reuse
- 2019
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Ingår i: Waste Management. - : Elsevier BV. - 0956-053X .- 1879-2456. ; 88, s. 268-279
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The circular economy is proposed to reduce environmental impact, but as yet, there is limited empirical evidence of this sort from studying real, commercial circular economy business cases. This study investigates the environmental impacts of using second-hand laptops, mediated by a commercial reuse operation, instead of new ones. The method used is life cycle assessment (LCA) and special attention is given to laptops’ metal resource use by using several complementary life cycle impact assessment methods. The results show that all activities required to enable reuse of laptops are negligible, despite the reuse company’s large geographical scope. Two principal features of reuse reduce environmental impacts. Firstly, use extension reduces all impacts considerably since there are large embedded impacts in components. Secondly, the reuse company steers non-reusable laptops into state-of-the-art recycling. This provides additional impact reductions, especially with regards to toxicity and metal resource use. The results for metal resource use however diverge between LCIA methods in terms of highlighted metals which, in turn, affects the degree of impact reduction. LCIA methods that characterise functionally recycled metals as important, result in larger impact reduction, since these emphasise the merits of steering flows into state-of-the-art recycling. The study thus demonstrates how using second-hand laptops, mediated by a commercial reuse operation, compared to new ones, in practice, reduces different types of environmental impact through synergistic relationships between reuse and recycling. Moreover, it illustrates how the choice of LCIA method can influence interpretations of metal resource use impacts when applying circular economy measures to information and communication technologies (ICT).
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| 15. |
- Arushanyan, Yevgeniya, et al.
(författare)
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Environmental Assessment of Possible Future Waste Management Scenarios
- 2017
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Ingår i: Energies. - : MDPI AG. - 1996-1073. ; 10:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Waste management has developed in many countries and will continue to do so. Changes towards increased recovery of resources in order to meet climate targets and for society to transition to a circular economy are important driving forces. Scenarios are important tools for planning and assessing possible future developments and policies. This paper presents a comprehensive life cycle assessment (LCA) model for environmental assessments of scenarios and waste management policy instruments. It is unique by including almost all waste flows in a country and also allow for including waste prevention. The results show that the environmental impacts from future waste management scenarios in Sweden can differ a lot. Waste management will continue to contribute with environmental benefits, but less so in the more sustainable future scenarios, since the surrounding energy and transportation systems will be less polluting and also because less waste will be produced. Valuation results indicate that climate change, human toxicity and resource depletion are the most important environmental impact categories for the Swedish waste management system. Emissions of fossil CO2 from waste incineration will continue to be a major source of environmental impacts in these scenarios. The model is used for analyzing environmental impacts of several policy instruments including weight based collection fee, incineration tax, a resource tax and inclusion of waste in a green electricity certification system. The effect of the studied policy instruments in isolation are in most cases limited, suggesting that stronger policy instruments as well as combinations are necessary to reach policy goals as set out in for example the EU action plan on circular economy.
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| 16. |
- Böckin, Daniel, 1989, et al.
(författare)
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How product characteristics can guide measures for resource efficiency - A synthesis of assessment studies
- 2020
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Ingår i: Resources, Conservation and Recycling. - : Elsevier BV. - 0921-3449 .- 1879-0658. ; 154C
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A circular economy aims at decoupling value creation from resource throughput. For circular economy to contribute to environmental and resource improvements, there is need for critical assessments regarding in what general situations, beyond individual cases, solutions may lead to improvements. On the product-level, there is need for synthesized knowledge accounting for a wide range of contexts and environmental impacts. We investigate what resource efficiency (RE) measures result in reduced physical flows and environmental impacts, depending on the characteristics of products and their life cycles. The study is limited to physical measures on a product system level, irrespective of manner of implementation. A library of comparative assessments (primarily life cycle assessments and material flow analyses) was built, covering a wide range of products and RE measures. A framework was formulated for analysing for which product characteristics a measure tends to improve RE, and under which contexts there are trade-offs to take into account. For example, sharing of products is best suited for durable and infrequently used products that tend not to reach their full technical lifetime. A trade-off is that sharing can increase transportation for accessing shared stock. The identified key product characteristics were: whether products are consumable or durable, active or passive, typically used for their full technical lifetimes or discarded before being worn out, the product’s frequency of use and whether function remains at a product’s end of use. Pace of development matters for suitability of measures for active, durable products, while complexity is relevant for restorative measures and recycling.
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| 17. |
- Böckin, Daniel, 1989, et al.
(författare)
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What makes solutions within the manufacturing industry resource efficient?
- 2016
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Ingår i: Presented at the 12th Biennial International Conference on EcoBalance, in Kyoto, Japan, 3-6th October 2016..
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The linear mode of production and consumption has dominated the last century. Raw materials are extracted and assembled into products that are discarded after only a short life. This entails a net flow of material from the earth’s crust into diluted stocks spread over society and in nature. To achieve long term sustainability, a move towards a resource efficient (RE) economy needs to take place.Such resource efficiency can be achieved in an abundance of ways that relate to production efficiency (e.g. reducing scrap rate), more efficient use of product (e.g. sharing, prolong life, energy efficiency) or closing the loops (reverting material flows back into the product-chain). But, from a life-cycle perspective, how effective are resource efficient solutions in actuality? There is a lack of generic understanding of when a RE solution in fact leads to a net improvement in resource efficiency, and under which conditions (such as product characteristics, enablers etc.) that they are successful.A related paper presents an analytical framework that aims at analysing and understanding RE solutions. The present work presents a pilot study which, using this framework, systematically analyses a number of different assessment studies (e.g. Life Cycle Assessments, Lice Cycle Costings, Material Flow Analyses) and thus provides an overview and an understanding of which different solutions are suitable under different sets of conditions or product types. The selection of case studies is limited to RE solutions within the manufacturing industry such as remanufacturing of engines, functional sales of washing machines and reuse of electronic equipment.The study is expected to contribute to a generic understanding of what characterises RE solutions and the trade-offs they bring, thus clarifying what makes different solutions effective and not. Furthermore, this knowledge can be utilised as guidelines when planning or designing new solutions to be RE.
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| 18. |
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| 19. |
- Downes, Sarah, et al.
(författare)
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Prospecting Secondary Raw Materials in the Urban Mine and mining wastes (ProSUM) Recommendations Report
- 2017
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This Report presents the recommendations arising from the ProSUM Project. It contains recommendations designed to continue to improve the knowledge base for secondary raw materials with the overarching objective of increasing recycling and supply of such materials. It specifically addresses data availability, data quality, data harmonisation, data structure and data presentation. The report contains a complete list of recommendations arising from the work undertaken in the project covering the ‘urban mine’ of electrical and electronic equipment, batteries and vehicles, their wastes, and mining wastes. It is the culmination of three years’ work which has resulted in: • The characterisation of products in terms of CRM content; • A comprehensive review and screening of all available data to characterise products; • An assessment of the factors affecting CRM content in products and the future trends for products; • A comprehensive review of existing and development of new methodologies for sampling and analysis of products; • An assessment of the current stocks of products held in households and business; • The quantification of flows of waste products not captured by national reporting on producer compliance; • A new model to quantify stocks and flows of products, their waste and material flows; • A comprehensive review and screening of all available data to characterise waste flows; • A comprehensive review of existing and development of new methodologies for sampling and analysis of wastes; • An evaluation of relevant product waste flows and mining wastes deposits; • Creation of the Urban Mine Platform (UMP) including a unified data model and code lists and meta data system; • Expansion of the Minerals Knowledge Data Platform (MKDP) for mining wastes; • And a new harmonised classification system to describe data in the urban mine.
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| 20. |
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| 21. |
- Finnveden, Göran, et al.
(författare)
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Policy instruments towards a sustainable waste management
- 2013
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Ingår i: Sustainability. - Basel : MDPI AG. - 2071-1050. ; 5:3, s. 841-881
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of this paper is to suggest and discuss policy instruments that could lead towards a more sustainable waste management. The paper is based on evaluations from a large scale multi-disciplinary Swedish research program. The evaluations focus on environmental and economic impacts as well as social acceptance. The focus is on the Swedish waste management system but the results should be relevant also for other countries. Through the assessments and lessons learned during the research program we conclude that several policy instruments can be effective and possible to implement. Particularly, we put forward the following policy instruments: “Information”; “Compulsory recycling of recyclable materials”; “Weight-based waste fee in combination with information and developed recycling systems”; “Mandatory labeling of products containing hazardous chemicals”, “Advertisements on request only and other waste minimization measures”; and “Differentiated VAT and subsidies for some services”. Compulsory recycling of recyclable materials is the policy instrument that has the largest potential for decreasing the environmental impacts with the configurations studied here. The effects of the other policy instruments studied may be more limited and they typically need to be implemented in combination in order to have more significant impacts. Furthermore, policy makers need to take into account market and international aspects when implementing new instruments. In the more long term perspective, the above set of policy instruments may also need to be complemented with more transformational policy instruments that can significantly decrease the generation of waste.
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| 22. |
- Finnveden, Göran, et al.
(författare)
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Policy Instruments towards a sustainable waste management
- 2016
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Ingår i: Solid waste management: Policy and planning for a sustainable society. - : Apple Academic Press. - 9781771883740 - 9780429091650 ; , s. 185-246, s. 185-246
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Bokkapitel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)
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