| Title | Challenges facing sustainable urban mining in the e-waste recycling industry in Sri Lanka |
|---|---|
| ID_Doc | 70811 |
| Authors | Gunarathne, N; de Alwis, A; Alahakoon, Y |
| Title | Challenges facing sustainable urban mining in the e-waste recycling industry in Sri Lanka |
| Year | 2020 |
| Published | |
| Abstract | While much has been written on e-waste in developed countries and some developing countries, the challenges of sustainable urban mining in e-waste in Sri Lanka remain largely unexplored. However, understanding these challenges is a complex process owing to the large number of stakeholders involved and intricate macro environmental factors. Hence, a systematic approach is needed to understand the multifaceted, multi-stakeholder challenges in e-waste recycling in Sri Lanka. This study explores the challenges inhibiting sustainable urban mining in e-waste recycling in Sri Lanka and remedial action to address these challenges with the help of the integrated sustainable waste management model [ISWMM]. Using a case study approach to the entire e-waste recycling industry in Sri Lanka, this study collected data through various methods including interviews, site visits and document analyses. The collected data was analysed thematically using a modified version of ISWMM revealing the interrelationship between the multidimensional challenges stemming from stakeholders, e-waste management processes and the local enabling environment. Since all these challenges are closely knit in a vicious circle, a few ad-hoc initiatives to overcome them would not suffice to produce the desired change towards the goal of a sustainable urban mining in e-waste. Thus, the possible strategies to overcome these challenges should include policy formulation, law enforcement, adoption of the extended producer responsibility principle, capacity building, awareness creation and education, import controls, industry regularization and public-privatepartnership. These strategies need to be urgently initiated by the Sri Lankan government, business organizations, consumers and civil society so as to overcome any environmental and social issues associated with urban mining of e-waste while harnessing its business potential. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. |
Similar Articles
| ID | Score | Article |
|---|---|---|
22797
|
Erdiaw-Kwasie, MO; Abunyewah, M; Baah, C A systematic review of the factors - Barriers, drivers, and technologies - Affecting e-waste urban mining: On the circular economy future of developing countries(2024) | |
| 29853
|
Gunarathne, ADN; Tennakoon, TPYC; Weragoda, JR Challenges and opportunities for the recycling industry in developing countries: the case of Sri Lanka(2019)Journal Of Material Cycles And Waste Management, 21.0, 1 | |
| 4624
|
Murthy, V; Ramakrishna, S A Review on Global E-Waste Management: Urban Mining towards a Sustainable Future and Circular Economy(2022)Sustainability, 14, 2 | |
| 19375
|
Debnath, B Towards Sustainable E-Waste Management Through Industrial Symbiosis: A Supply Chain Perspective(2020) | |
| 25056
|
Nurcahyo, R; Wibowo, N; Gabriel, DS; Sopha, BM; Ma'aram, A Model development of community-based willingness to recycle for urban mining(2024) | |
| 5253
|
Sengupta, D; Ilankoon, IMSK; Kang, KD; Chong, MN Circular economy and household e-waste management in India: Integration of formal and informal sectors(2022) | |
| 9475
|
dos Santos, KL Unequal geographies of urban mining: E-waste management in London, Sao Paulo and Accra(2023)Environment And Planning E-Nature And Space, 6.0, 3 | |
| 18297
|
Sun, BB; Schnoor, JL; Zeng, EY Decadal Journey of E-Waste Recycling: What Has It Achieved?(2022)Environmental Science & Technology, 56.0, 18 | |
| 2296
|
Sharma, M; Joshi, S; Govindan, K Issues and solutions of electronic waste urban mining for circular economy transition: An Indian context(2021) | |
| 5273
|
Xavier, LH; Ottoni, M; Abreu, LPP A comprehensive review of urban mining and the value recovery from e-waste materials(2023) |