10 07 29 Master thesis Juliana Leon - e-Waste. This guide

Table of Contents
1 INTRODUCTION.................................................................................1
1.1 Problem description ................................................................................................. 1
1.2 Colombia as case study ........................................................................................... 2
1.2.1 ICT use and penetration in Colombia .......................................................................... 3
1.2.2 E-waste landscape in Colombia .................................................................................. 4
1.3 Informal sector in the e-waste management.......................................................... 5
1.4 Inclusion of informal sector in e-waste management ........................................... 6
1.5 Research Questions ................................................................................................. 7
2 METHODS...........................................................................................8
2.1 Computer waste generation..................................................................................... 8
2.1.1 The Market supply method .......................................................................................... 8
2.1.2 The Market Supply Method adapted to informal economies ....................................... 8
2.1.3 Data collection and assumptions ................................................................................. 9
2.1.4 Distribution by consumer type ................................................................................... 11
2.2 Field survey ............................................................................................................. 12
2.3 Material Flow Analysis ........................................................................................... 13
2.3.1 Definitions .................................................................................................................. 14
2.3.2 System definition ....................................................................................................... 14
2.3.3 Goods and Materials.................................................................................................. 15
2.3.5 Mathematical description ........................................................................................... 16
3 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION..........................................................19
3.1 Computer waste generation................................................................................... 19
3.2 Current disposal options ....................................................................................... 21
3.2.1 Formal e-waste processors ....................................................................................... 21
3.2.2 Auctions ..................................................................................................................... 22
3.2.3 Donation to social refurbishment ............................................................................... 23
3.2.4 Disposal habits .......................................................................................................... 23
3.2.4.1 Category 1: Households, Micro and small companies..............................................23
3.2.4.2 Category 2: Medium and Large Business (MLBs) ....................................................24
3.2.4.3 Category 3: Government and Education ..................................................................24
3.3 Operation of the informal sector in Colombian main cities................................ 25
3.3.1 Informal collection...................................................................................................... 25
IV