Life cycle assessment of a small WEEE reverse logistics system: Case study in the Campinas Area, Brazil

The waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) reverse logistics system mapped in this study comprises transportation, dismantling and recycling operations that consume material and energy resources and cause environmental impacts. Considering the few studies on WEEE management, specifically on reverse logistics systems in Brazil, this study's main objective consists in assessing the environmental benefits and burdens resulting from a reverse logistics system that considers a variety of WEEE, by means of life cycle assessment (LCA). The study provides robust information and data that may assist in decision-making regarding reverse logistics processes and operations, in addition to environmental benefits as to WEEE component material recovery. Moreover, the LCA model and material flow scheme presented can be replicated by other dismantling companies, with similar processes, to estimate the burdens and benefits from recycling. The results indicate that the benefits of reverse logistics outweigh its impacts, remarkably due to the saving of metals and mineral resources resulting mainly from recycling printed circuit boards, and to the reduction of the potential environmental impact in human toxicity categories.

Automated summary

This study evaluated the environmental impact and benefits of the waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) reverse logistics system through the life cycle assessment (LCA), showing that the benefits outweigh the impacts mainly due to the savings of metals and mineral resources and the reduction of potential environmental impact in human toxicity categories.