Abstract

The management of end-of-life electronics, or e-waste, is a complex challenge as these products contain both valuable and hazardous materials. Recycling electronics provides an opportunity to harvest and reuse valuable components while also mitigating environmental and health risks. However, recycling rates for electronic waste remain low in the United States. In response to this challenge, twenty-six states in the U.S. have enacted policies meant to limit landfill disposal and encourage electronics recycling. While most state policies rely on mass-based targets for the collection and recycling of e-waste, convenience standards are an emerging policy mechanism aimed at increasing consumer access to recycling locations. A review of the literature suggests that convenience is a key factor in consumer recycling behavior, but there may be a disparity between how consumers define convenience, and how convenience is defined in policies. This research aims to determine how convenience standards codified by state e-waste laws align with consumer definitions of convenience and how variation in these standards impacts the convenience of electronic collection site locations. For this research, Illinois was chosen as a case study state. Using material flow analysis methods, with data from the United States Census Bureau and the Consumer Technology Association, we estimated the amount of electronic products ready for recycling in Illinois. Then, we created a spatially explicit model in ArcGIS Pro to simulate the locations of e-waste collection sites under three different state convenience standards. For each modeled standard, we calculated the amount of estimated electronic waste within a “convenient” distance of the simulated electronic waste collection sites as defined by literature on consumer recycling behavior. The modeled site locations and electronic waste estimations were validated against existing recycling locations and collection data in Illinois. The comparison between state convenience standards found that a baseline requirement for collection sites ensures convenient access to recycling in rural counties but is most convenient when combined with a population-based standard that provides additional sites for urban and densely populated areas. The result of this research provides insight into how the language of electronic recycling policies impacts the placement and convenience of recycling sites, which may inform policy development and participation in electronic waste recycling.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Electronic waste--United States--States--Management; Recycling (Waste, etc.)--Government policy--United States--States; Consumer behavior

Publication Date

8-9-2023

Document Type

Thesis

Student Type

Graduate

Degree Name

Sustainable Systems (MS)

Department, Program, or Center

Sustainability (GIS)

Advisor

Callie Babbitt

Advisor/Committee Member

Erinn Ryen

Advisor/Committee Member

Brian Tomaszewski

Campus

RIT – Main Campus

Plan Codes

SUSTSY-MS

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