Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is recognized as a priority waste stream internationally, mostly due to their volume and hazardousness. This paper presents an analysis for the quantification of WEEE management cost for Greece, taking into consideration scenarios for reverse logistics network’s development and WEEE volume scenarios. Transportation cost, which represents a major cost element for any reverse logistics network, is modelled with the use of mathematical programming, targeting towards the optimization of locations for the development of required intermediate storage infrastructures. Additionally, overall operational cost and recycling fees are estimated.
Achillas C.h (2009) End of life management of industrial products based on environmental-economic criteria and optimisation of the reverse supply chainGreece: PhD thesis, Aristotle University Thessaloniki , School of Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Thessaloniki, Greece (in Greek).
2.
Achillas Ch, Vlachokostas Ch, Aidonis D., Moussiopoulos N., Iakovou E. and Banias G. ( 2010a) Optimising reverse logistics network to support policy-making in the case of electrical and electronic equipment. Waste Management, 30: 2592-2600.
3.
Achillas Ch, Vlachokostas Ch, Moussiopoulos N. and Banias G. ( 2010b) Decision support system for the optimal location of electrical and electronic waste treatment plants: A case study in Greece. Waste Management30: 870-879.
4.
AEA Technology (2001) Waste Management Options and Climate Change. Final report to the European Commission, DG Environment .
5.
Appliances Recycling SA (2010) Official website. URL: http://www.electrocycle.gr (accessed March 2010).
6.
Appliances Recycling SA (2009) Actions report for year 2008. Newsletter, Athens, April.
7.
Dimitrakakis E., Janz A., Bilitewski B. and Gidarakos E. ( 2009) Small WEEE: determining recyclables and hazardous substances in plastics. Journal of Hazardous Materials161: 913-919.
8.
Iakovou E., Moussiopoulos N., Xanthopoulos A., Achillas Ch, Michailidis N., Chatzipanagioti M., et al. (2009) Multicriteria matrix: a methodology for end-of-life management. Resources, Conservation and Recycling53: 329-339.
9.
Kyratsoulis T. ( 2002) The Greek case for the management of waste from electrical - electronic equipment: Prospects and bottlenecks for business. The Recycling Electrical and Electronic Equipment Environmental Review. UK: ERA Technology.
10.
LHTEE (Laboratory of Heat Transfer and Environmental Engineering) (2004) Cost Analysis of the Management of Electrical and Electronic Products at the End of their Useful Life. Final report produced for Appliances Recycling SA, Thessaloniki , Greece (in Greek).
11.
Morrissey AJ and Browne J. ( 2004) Waste management models and their application to sustainable waste management. Waste Management24: 297-308.
12.
Moussiopoulos N., Karagiannidis A., Papadopoulos A., Achillas Ch, Antonopoulos I., Perkoulidis G., et al. (2011) Transportation cost analysis of the Hellenic system for alternative management of waste electric and electronic equipment . International Journal of Environment and Waste Management , in press.
13.
Nagel C. ( 1996) Reverse logistics - basic step towards eco-efficient recycling . In: CARE Innovation Conference, 18-20 November . Frankfurt, 247-249.
14.
Nnorom IC and Osibanjo O. ( 2009) Toxicity characterization of waste mobile phone plastics . Journal of Hazardous Materials161: 183-188.
15.
Steinhilper R. and Hieber M. ( 1998) Recycling networks and design for the environment - An interdisciplinary approach for downcycling, recycling and upcycling. In: Proceedings of the CARE Innovation Conference, 16-19 November. Vienna, 30-37.
16.
Vlachokostas Ch, Achillas Ch, Moussiopoulos N., Hourdakis E., Tsilingiridis G., Ntziachristos L., et al. (2009) Decision support system for the evaluation of urban air pollution control options: application for particulate pollution in Thessaloniki, Greece. Science of the Total Environment407: 5937-5948.
17.
Xanthopoulos A. ( 2007) A generic analytical quantitative location model for the design of a reverse supply chain. In: Paias A and Saldanha da Gama F (eds.) EURO Winter Institute on Location and Logistics. EURO (The Association of European Operational Research Societies), 477-508.
18.
Zuidwijk R. and Krikke H. ( 2008) Strategic response to EEE returns: Product eco-design or new recovery processes? European Journal of Operational Research191: 1206-1222.
