This paper has shed light on the extent to which the
current Italian e-waste collection system has been able to achieve the
targets defined by European and Italian authorities. The research, which
has a basic descriptive nature, has focused on the role played by the
collection centers by analyzing both the performance of the provincial
collection system and the infrastructure represented by the provincial
distribution of CCs in Italy in the period 2008–2017. In particular, the
work has aimed to verify the presence of territorial divide about the
WEEE collection at the provincial level and the presence of the
correlation between collection performance and distribution of CCs.
Three main results emerged from the adoption of the transition
probability matrix methodology, which is novel for the WEEE waste
stream.
The first result is that a territorial divide exists in Italy
between different areas of the country about the e-waste collection
rate and the e-waste Collection Centers infrastructure. Nevertheless,
some Southern provinces show positive WEEE collection performance so
that it is possible to claim that viable solutions can be found by
adopting appropriate local policy measures (actions, investments,
initiatives, etc.) which could be replicated by other lagging provinces.
A second result is the existence of a positive relationship between the
WEEE collection and the distribution of CCs among Italian provinces
which, in turn, contributes to feeding the territorial divide. Moreover,
we have found that external legislative events have had impact in
different periods of time on the Collection results of the WEEE
management system.
The transition probability matrix has resulted in
being an effective methodology able to recognize specific province
behaviors for both the WEEE collection performance and the CC
distribution. Additionally, more absorbing states of different intensity
emerged in the analysis. These absorbing states are more intense for
the CC distribution than for the WEEE collection coherently with the
higher constraints characterizing the investments in CC infrastructure. A
summary of main findings is shown in Table 12.
Table 12. Summary of findings.
| Variable |
Results |
| WEEE collected rate |
- A territorial divide exists among different geographical area in Italy
- Generally, provinces of Northern of Italy perform better than ones of Southern and Central Italy
- The worst performing provinces are all in Southern Italy
-
In the period 2008–2012, there is a higher mobility probability than in
the period 2013–2017 (probably caused by external legislative events)
- In Southern Italy, there are two virtuous provinces, namely Isernia and Nuoro |
| WEEE Collection Centers |
- High probability of permanence in a same state in the entire period.
- The higher steady state condition is related to HWC (83.3%), followed by LWC (70%)
- Difficulty to make infrastructural investments (e.g., opening of new CCs)
- Higher number of CCs in Northern Italy |
| Correlation analysis between WEEE collected rate and WEEE collection Centers |
- A correlation between WEEE collection and distribution of CCs exists
- High number of CCs could explain different WEEE collection performance
-
Although the role of the CCs is becoming less crucial, it still remains
a critical aspect of the Italian WEEE management system
- Three
different groups of provinces have been identified on the basis of the
two considered dimensions (WEEE collection rate and CCs) |
Therefore,
based on the results, it is possible to claim that the organization of
the Italian WEEE collection system could play a very critical role if
accompanied by awareness-raising initiatives. It is important to
underline that findings prove that the WEEE collection management is a
critical step of the overall WEEE management processes according to the
circular economy approach. Moreover, results show that national
and European regulations have a strong impact on WEEE collection
performance as we observed a higher mobility probability in the first
period than the second one.
Finally, both the territorial divide and
the presence of the correlation are confirmed. Indeed, those provinces
(often located in the Southern of Italy) that did not possess a WEEE
collection system prior to the introduction of the EU management system,
and have not carried out early investments in setting up an appropriate
infrastructure, have faced relevant problems and impediments to improve
the collection performance and to support the WEEE national system. On
the contrary, provinces with an initial collection system and ability to
realize early investments, improved their position and benefited from
the presence of absorbing states operating there.
This paper suffers
from some limitations. About the field results, the first limit regards
the country specific context analyzed. In this view, a confirmation of
the correlation between WEEE collection results and CC diffusion
requires further country-based research. Indeed, this research can be
carried out easily considering that the transition probability matrix
methodology can be adopted straightforwardly for different countries,
thus favoring comparisons. A second limit regards the fact that it is
focused on the collection part of the WEEE management system, without
considering other processes (e.g., WEEE treatments) of the WEEE reverse
supply chain.
Implications
Lights and shadows emerge from this
study. Results highlight that the WEEE management system in Italy has
improved since its introduction in 2004. Nevertheless, Southern and
Central Italian provinces have to improve their WEEE collection
performance and collection centers infrastructure. In fact, as expected,
the national reality is very heterogeneous both at regional and
macro-regional levels.
Drawing on the discussed results, some
implications can be derived. First of all, policy-makers could exploit
this analysis to identify properly the Italian provinces where there
appears to be more effective investments in reinforcement of the WEEE
collection infrastructures. At the same time, we have seen that, in
other provinces, the adoption of the so-called soft measure (e.g.,
communication, information, educational campaigns to affect the citizens
behaviors with regards to the e-waste management) can be more
effective. In other words, our results can be adopted to support the
development of effective policies and measures able to improve the
Italian WEEE collection performance and the WEEE management system as a
whole.
Furthermore, this research could provide insights and
guidelines about the definition of customized province-oriented policies
to support the achievement of a balanced e-waste collection performance
at national level, which play a key role in the feeding of the WEEE
management system. The customization of measures and initiatives
deriving from these policies can result in a robust practical
applicability being tailored on the specific features of the local
territorial systems. At the same time, we can claim that the results and
the transition probability matrix method can be adopted in different
studies to analyze other country contexts, thus allowing European and
international comparison among different geographical areas with similar
and/or different patterns of WEEE collection performance and CC
infrastructure. This is particularly true in the context of the EU
regulation framework, whereas the practical applicability of the
transition matrixes is also guaranteed by the manageable availability of
the data set feeding the methodology adopted. In the context of the EU
regulation framework, the practical applicability is also guaranteed by
the manageable availability of the data feeding the methodology adopted.
This in turn can support the effectiveness of the reverse supply chain
of the WEEE management system and putting into practice the Circular
Economy perspective.