E-waste and the Circular Economy

E-waste continues to be a global menace as millions of used electronic appliances are thrown away after use each year and a tiny proportion of them are recycled properly. To reduce the harm caused by E-waste, it is important to adhere to the concept of circular economy. A circular economy aims to make production a cycle, rather than the current linear model. This paper reviews the current literature on e-waste and circular economy. It sheds light on global efforts to boost the circular economy. The European Commission’s action plan for the circular economy model in 2020 aims to reduce e-waste by promoting ideas of sustainable design and recycling. The action plan includes solutions for designs including the requirement for USB-C to be the common charger for most electronic devices and encouraging recycling through a reward system. The paper then focuses on challenges related to lithium battery recycling and discusses innovative efforts by Ascend Elements and the Faraday Institution project at the University of Leicester and Birmingham.