IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v15y2023i11p9054-d1163370.html

Circular Economy Management of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) in Italian Urban Systems: Comparison and Perspectives

Author

Listed:
  • Patrizia Ghisellini

    (Department of Engineering, University of Naples “Parthenope”, Centro Direzionale, Isola C4, 80143 Naples, Italy)

  • Ivana Quinto

    (Department of Engineering, University of Naples “Parthenope”, Centro Direzionale, Isola C4, 80143 Naples, Italy)

  • Renato Passaro

    (Department of Engineering, University of Naples “Parthenope”, Centro Direzionale, Isola C4, 80143 Naples, Italy)

  • Sergio Ulgiati

    (Departement of Science and Technology, University of Naples “Parthenope”, Centro Direzionale, Isola C4, 80143 Naples, Italy
    State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China)

Abstract

This study evaluates the current collection and recycling of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) in Italy by means of the analysis of national and regional data from EUROSTAT and the Italian WEEE Coordination Centre database, as well as through qualitative interviews with key stakeholders of the WEEE management system of the Campania region (Southern Italy). Urban systems, among which the metropolitan city of Naples in the Campania region, are the main users of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) and, as a consequence, the main generators of WEEE, which must be managed and recovered properly in order to prevent the loss of valuable resources and the associated environmental impacts. In addition to analysing the current state of WEEE collection and recycling in Italy and its regions and urban systems, the study aims to improve our understanding of the WEEE reverse supply chain and the main barriers and drivers to collection and recycling. The results reveal that the main barriers to the collection/delivery/recycling of WEEE resulted in the low awareness of the citizens about the importance of WEEE recovery, the lack of trust towards administrators, the lack of certified first treatment plants, the aversion of the citizens to the opening of new plants due to past inefficient solutions in solid waste management, the exploitation of high value materials only (so-called “cannibalization”, the illegal trade of WEEE, the influence of the market on the valorization of secondary materials), and, finally, the dominance of economic efficiency over the proximity advantage for the disposal of solid waste. On the other hand, the main drivers for collection emerged to be the adoption of education programmes in schools and constant communication campaigns directed to citizens in order to improve WEEE collection and recycling behaviour; the adoption of economic and non-economic incentives; the availability of municipal collection points (ecological islands) and other collection centres characterised by easy access by citizens for the delivery of their WEEE.

Suggested Citation

  • Patrizia Ghisellini & Ivana Quinto & Renato Passaro & Sergio Ulgiati, 2023. "Circular Economy Management of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) in Italian Urban Systems: Comparison and Perspectives," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-26, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:11:p:9054-:d:1163370
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/11/9054/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/11/9054/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Idiano D’Adamo & Paolo Rosa & Sergio Terzi, 2016. "Challenges in Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Management: A Profitability Assessment in Three European Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(7), pages 1-19, July.
    2. Célestin Banza Lubaba Nkulu & Lidia Casas & Vincent Haufroid & Thierry De Putter & Nelly D. Saenen & Tony Kayembe-Kitenge & Paul Musa Obadia & Daniel Kyanika Wa Mukoma & Jean-Marie Lunda Ilunga & Tim , 2018. "Sustainability of artisanal mining of cobalt in DR Congo," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 1(9), pages 495-504, September.
    3. Rosa Anna Nastro & Enrica Leccisi & Maria Toscanesi & Gengyuan Liu & Marco Trifuoggi & Sergio Ulgiati, 2021. "Exploring Avoided Environmental Impacts as Well as Energy and Resource Recovery from Microbial Desalination Cell Treatment of Brine," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-16, July.
    4. Raffaele Isernia & Renato Passaro & Ivana Quinto & Antonio Thomas, 2019. "The Reverse Supply Chain of the E-Waste Management Processes in a Circular Economy Framework: Evidence from Italy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-19, April.
    5. Michael Gibbert & Winfried Ruigrok & Barbara Wicki, 2008. "What passes as a rigorous case study?," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(13), pages 1465-1474, December.
    6. Bruno, Giuseppe & Diglio, Antonio & Passaro, Renato & Piccolo, Carmela & Quinto, Ivana, 2021. "Measuring spatial access to the recovery networks for WEEE: An in-depth analysis of the Italian case," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 240(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Anni Orola & Anna Härri & Jarkko Levänen & Ville Uusitalo & Stig Irving Olsen, 2022. "Assessing WELBY Social Life Cycle Assessment Approach through Cobalt Mining Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-26, September.
    2. Lydia Bals & Jon F. Kirchoff & Kai Foerstl, 2016. "Exploring the reshoring and insourcing decision making process: toward an agenda for future research," Operations Management Research, Springer, vol. 9(3), pages 102-116, December.
    3. Fragkandreas, Thanos, 2025. "Case study research on innovation systems: Paradox, dialectical analysis and resolution," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 54(1).
    4. Gaston Fornes & Abel Monfort & Camelia Ilie & Chun Kwong (Tony) Koo & Guillermo Cardoza, 2019. "Ethics, Responsibility, and Sustainability in MBAs. Understanding the Motivations for the Incorporation of ERS in Less Traditional Markets," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(24), pages 1-22, December.
    5. Cheng Mei Tung, 2018. "Vertical integration for smart manufacturing-The dynamic capability perspective," Journal of Advances in Technology and Engineering Research, A/Professor Akbar A. Khatibi, vol. 4(2), pages 70-78.
    6. Marie-José Avenier & Catherine Thomas, 2015. "Finding one's way around various methodological guidelines for doing rigorous case studies: A comparison of four epistemological frameworks [Se frayer un chemin parmi les différentes recommandations pour réaliser des études de cas rigoureuses: Com," Post-Print halshs-01491454, HAL.
    7. Anja Schulze & Stefano Brusoni, 2022. "How dynamic capabilities change ordinary capabilities: Reconnecting attention control and problem‐solving," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 43(12), pages 2447-2477, December.
    8. Lea Stadtler & Luk N. Wassenhove, 2023. "Between Intensity and Diversity: Leveraging the Role of Place in Cross-Sector Partnerships," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 184(4), pages 773-791, May.
    9. Giovanna Centorrino & Guido Noto & Daniela Rupo, 2022. "Management control in inter-firm relationships: Opportunities and challenges of blockchain technology adoption," MANAGEMENT CONTROL, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2022(3), pages 65-88.
    10. Ricardo A. Santa & Alejandro Acosta & Silvio Borrero & Annibal Scavarda, 2020. "Corporate, operational, and information systems strategies: Alignment and firm performance," Estudios Gerenciales, Universidad Icesi, vol. 36(157), pages 454-464.
    11. Volz, Felix & Münch, Christopher & Lohmüller, Marcel & Küffner, Christoph, 2025. "From data jungle to data governance in digital ecosystems: Empirical evidence from a multiple holistic case study," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 201(C).
    12. Kindström, Daniel & Kowalkowski, Christian & Sandberg, Erik, 2013. "Enabling service innovation: A dynamic capabilities approach," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 66(8), pages 1063-1073.
    13. Hoppmann, Joern, 2021. "Hand in hand to Nowhereland? How the resource dependence of research institutes influences their co-evolution with industry," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 50(2).
    14. Horațiu Vermeșan & Ancuța-Elena Tiuc & Marius Purcar, 2019. "Advanced Recovery Techniques for Waste Materials from IT and Telecommunication Equipment Printed Circuit Boards," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-23, December.
    15. Korde, Vivek B. & Khelkar, Ashish B. & Khot, Suhas & Malavadakar, Prakash & Deshmukh, Prajakta & Amalraj, Shankar, 2026. "Advancements of lithium-ion battery Recycling: Transitioning from traditional methods to AI and machine learning techniques," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 225(C).
    16. Sophie Richit & Aurélie Hemonnet‐goujot, 2025. "Conservatives, Progressives and Transformers: The Influence of Marketers' Biases on Sustainable Innovation," Post-Print hal-05389626, HAL.
    17. Ming‐Lang Tseng & Hien Minh Ha & Thi Phuong Thuy Tran & Tat‐Dat Bui & Chih‐Cheng Chen & Chun‐Wei Lin, 2022. "Building a data‐driven circular supply chain hierarchical structure: Resource recovery implementation drives circular business strategy," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(5), pages 2082-2106, July.
    18. Arz, Christopher, 2019. "Bridging the micro-macro gap: A multi-layer culture framework for understanding entrepreneurial orientation in family firms," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 10(3), pages 1-1.
    19. Francesco Ferella & Idiano D’Adamo & Simona Leone & Valentina Innocenzi & Ida De Michelis & Francesco Vegliò, 2018. "Spent FCC E-Cat: Towards a Circular Approach in the Oil Refining Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-19, December.
    20. Kylie Ching Mun Wang & Khai Ern Lee & Mazlin Mokhtar, 2021. "Solid Waste Management in Small Tourism Islands: An Evolutionary Governance Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-26, May.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:11:p:9054-:d:1163370. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.