Digitally metallic scraps and e-waste Management
Secteur : environnement
Département : Meurthe-et-Moselle (54)
Pépite : Pépite PeeL
Projet :
Europe produce around 14.4 million tonnes of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) on the market each year, but only about 5 million tonnes of e-waste are officially collected. At the same time, global data show that only around 22% of e-waste was properly collected and recycled in 2022, with Europe at about 40%, leaving a huge fraction of valuable materials unmanaged. This means billions of euros' worth of metals (Cu, Au, Ag, rare earths etc) are literally lying in drawers or leaking into informal channels, while producers face increasing pressure from Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), eco-modulation fees and future Digital Product Passport (DPP) requirements. It is clear that there is a strong need for technological advancement and the practical implementation of the circular economy to improve the flow of e-waste to recyclers, while reducing transportation costs and environmental pollution. This project turns the invisible value of unused electronics into a visible, trusted price signal that nudges citizens and businesses to return their devices, while giving industry and governments data-driven e-waste valuation and recommendations for cost-effective, efficient recycling tools to meet Europe's circular economy ambitions. The project has three main objectives: (i) Raising awareness among electronic users by providing an open-source online catalogue of electronic scrap values through a website and mobile app. (ii) Installing collection points where users can bring their e-waste and receive money in return. (iii) Recommending cost- and energy-efficient recycling solutions to producers and recyclers.
