Centre for Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Engineering and the Environment, Lanchester Building, University of Southampton, University Rd., Highfield, Southampton, Hampshire SO17 1BJ, UK.
Waste Manag. 2013 Dec;33(12):2600-6. doi: 10.1016/j.wasman.2013.08.020. Epub 2013 Sep 14.
In Europe, socio-economic enterprises such as charities, voluntary organisations and not-for-profit companies are involved in the repair, refurbishment and reuse of various products. This paper characterises and analyses the operations of socio-economic enterprises that are involved in the reuse of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) equipment. Using findings from a survey, the paper specifically analyses the reuse activities of socio-economic enterprises in the U.K. from which Europe-wide conclusions are drawn. The amount of ICT products handled by the reuse organisations is quantified and potential barriers and opportunities to their operations are analysed. By-products from reuse activities are discussed and recommendations to improve reuse activities are provided. The most common ICT products dealt with by socio-economic enterprises are computers and related equipment. In the U.K. in 2010, an estimated 143,750 appliances were reused. However, due to limitations in data, it is difficult to compare this number to the amount of new appliances that entered the U.K. market or the amount of waste electrical and electronic equipment generated in the same period. Difficulties in marketing products and numerous legislative requirements are the most common barriers to reuse operations. Despite various constraints, it is clear that organisations involved in reuse of ICT could contribute significantly to resource efficiency and a circular economy. It is suggested that clustering of their operations into "reuse parks" would enhance both their profile and their products. Reuse parks would also improve consumer confidence in and subsequently sales of the products. Further, it is advocated that industrial networking opportunities for the exchange of by-products resulting from the organisations' activities should be investigated. The findings make two significant contributions to the current literature. One, they provide a detailed insight into the reuse operations of socio-economic enterprises. Previously unavailable data has been presented and analysed. Secondly, new evidence about the by-products/materials resulting from socio-economic enterprises' reuse activities has been obtained. These contributions add substantially to our understanding of the important role of reuse organisations.
在欧洲，慈善机构、志愿组织和非营利公司等社会经济企业参与了各种产品的维修、翻新和再利用。本文描述和分析了参与信息和通信技术（ICT）设备再利用的社会经济企业的运营情况。本文使用调查结果，专门分析了英国社会经济企业的再利用活动，并从中得出了欧洲范围内的结论。本文量化了再利用组织处理的 ICT 产品数量，并分析了其运营的潜在障碍和机会。讨论了再利用活动的副产品，并提供了改进再利用活动的建议。社会经济企业处理的最常见的 ICT 产品是计算机及相关设备。在 2010 年的英国，估计有 143750 台设备被再利用。然而，由于数据的限制，很难将这个数字与同期进入英国市场的新设备数量或同期产生的废弃电子电气设备数量进行比较。产品营销困难和众多立法要求是再利用运营的最常见障碍。尽管存在各种限制，但显然参与 ICT 再利用的组织可以为资源效率和循环经济做出重大贡献。有人建议将它们的运营集中到“再利用园区”中，以提高它们的形象和产品。再利用园区还将提高消费者对产品的信心，并随后促进产品销售。此外，有人主张应该研究为组织活动产生的副产品建立工业网络交流机会。研究结果对当前文献做出了两项重要贡献。首先，它们深入了解了社会经济企业的再利用运营情况。本文提供了以前无法获得的数据，并对其进行了分析。其次，本文获得了关于社会经济企业再利用活动产生的副产品/材料的新证据。这些贡献大大增加了我们对再利用组织重要作用的理解。
