Opportunities and Threats of Current E-Waste Collection System in China:A Case Study from Taizhou with a Focus on Refrigerators,Washing Machines, and Televisions

摘要

This study analyzes household data and compares literature sources about how Chinese households dispose ofnobsolete electrical and electronic equipment. Household data was collected by questionnaires. It was found thatnthe majority of electrical and electronic equipment is sold to street collectors or as second hand appliances to thenreuse market. The informal collection sector plays, therefore, a key role in the separation of waste material,ncomponents, or entire items for reuse. Households were also questioned about how much informal collectorsnpaid for televisions, washing machines, and refrigerators. Prices paid do not reflect the conditions of the ap-npliances when sold, nor do they reflect accurately the value of the materials contained in the appliances. It can bensupposed that the peddlers pay a price that somehow reflects a mixed return from (1) selling some obsoletenelectrical and electronic equipment directly for reuse, (2) extracting some components for reuse, and (3) sellingnthe rest for material recovery. This complicates the structing of a formalized collection system; as such a system,nin order to obtain e-waste, must compete with the prices paid in the informal sector. Regulators have the optionsnto disentangle: collection, reuse, and recycling by prescribing clear roles and responsibilities, and by includingnsome of the informal activities into a formalized system. The Chinese preconditions for developing a compre-nhensive e-waste management system differs from those in developed countries and needs to be considered whennformulating and implementing regulations.