The Entrepreneur's Guide to Computer Recycling - e-Waste. This ...

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Entrepreneur’s Guide to Computer RecyclingAINTRODUCTION | SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGESModern recycling facilities are equipped with technologies that can handlethese processes with minimal risks to the environment and worker health,while also ensuring the added environmental benefit of optimal recoveryof materials. These treatment methods, however, are expensive and lendthemselves to economies of scale. Financial constraints for electronicsrecycling, both in terms of the quantity of available recyclable materialand profit margins, will prevent the construction and operation of a stateof-the-artfacility in all countries. It is therefore often necessary to movecertain materials to countries having the capacity to provide environmentallysound management. A challenge facing many countries is how todevelop an appropriate framework to ensure that the materials that cannotbe managed by the informal sector in an environmentally sound mannerare sent to countries with the capacity to do so in a way that is attractiveand profitable to all stakeholders.ImportsIn developing countries, informal sector businesses often import containersof ICT equipments of variable quality. Some equipment may not besuitable for repair, refurbishment and reuse. These containers often comefrom donations or large secondhand sales, and importers have limitedmeans of controlling the quality of this equipment. Imports of equipmentnot suitable for reuse can increase the challenge of ensuring environmentallysound management and may present added risks to human healthand the environment.10
Volume 1: Basics for starting up a computer recycling businessc h a p t e r 4ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIESThe potential economic opportunities associated with the recovery ofmaterials are also responsible for the advent of informal markets in developingcountries not equipped to process used and end-of-use computersefficiently and safely for workers’ health and the environment. From aneconomic perspective, informal material recovery processors lose significantamounts of metals that could be more effectively recovered throughthe use of existing state-of-the-art technologies. More importantly, theseinformal markets employ recycling and materials recovery techniques thatexpose workers and the environment to potentially harmful pollutants.The second-hand marketAINTRODUCTION | ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIESIn developing countries, refurbished computers from the second-handmarket provide opportunities for people who cannot afford to buy newequipment. Growing demand for refurbished equipment in these countriesis matched by the need for spare parts for maintenance and computerrepair. Recycling businesses can provide repaired and refurbishedcomputers to this rapidly growing market at affordable prices.The growth in the price of raw materialA local recycling business may also profit from the sale of componentsand recovered materials to facilities equipped to provide environmentallysound recycling. The rise of raw material prices has made recycling usedcomputer components an economically viable enterprise for environmentallysound facilities, creating a market for properly disassembled componentsand scrap parts. This can be a profitable alternative for entrepreneurs,while preventing harmful practices such as dumping, open burningand incineration.11
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The purpose of this guidebookis to
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