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Estimation of Metal Values of Obsolete Mobile Phones: A Case of China

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Proceedings of the 2020 International Conference on Resource Sustainability: Sustainable Urbanisation in the BRI Era (icRS Urbanisation 2020) (icRSUrbanisation 2020)

Part of the book series: Environmental Science and Engineering ((ESE))

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Abstract

In recent decades, obsolete mobile phones have attracted global concern due to huge production, rich valuable metal content, and potential environmental risk. Printed circuit boards (PCBs) in mobile phones contain various metals. Reusing these metal resources with a reasonable way into industrial production will bring great economic and social benefits to human society. Under the context of circular economy and sustainable development, the recycling of obsolete mobile phones will be of great significance in China. Based on previous studies, this study estimated that the contents of metals in PCBs coming from obsolete mobile phones in China and the forecasted the metals recycling values of obsolete mobile phones in 2030. The future average possession in per 100 inhabitants of cellular phones and the total population are calculated using the logistic model and the new population prediction model, respectively. According to the estimation results, the total weight of obsolete mobile phones generated each year will reach 220.0 Gg and 265.2 Gg in 2020 and 2030 respectively. In addition, 85.13 tons of silver and 31.02 tons of gold will be recovered from obsolete mobile phones in 2020, and the number will reach 102.63 and 37.39 in 2030. Among all the metals, gold has the most recycled value, accounting for 72.348% of the total recycling value, the total economic value of metal recovery will exceed 2149.98 million dollars in 2030. Finally, this article proposes some references and hopes to help establish a comprehensive obsolete mobile phones management system in China.

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Acknowledgements

This project was supported by Shandong Provincial Natural Science Foundation, China (ZR2013EEM008), and supported by Key Laboratory for Solid Waste Management and Environment Safety, Ministry of Education of China, Tsinghua University: SWMES 2017–02. The authors are grateful to the reviewers who help us improve the paper by many pertinent comments and suggestions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Environment and Safety Engineering, Qingdao University of Science & Technology, Qingdao, Shandong, 266042, People’s Republic of China

    Jingying Li, Tong Xu, Jiangxian Wen, Shuli Gong & Ni An

Authors
  1. Jingying Li
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  2. Tong Xu
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  3. Jiangxian Wen
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  4. Shuli Gong
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  5. Ni An
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Correspondence to Jingying Li .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geographical Sciences, University of Nottingham Ningbo China, Ningbo, China

    Faith Ka Shun Chan

  2. Nottingham University Business School China, University of Nottingham Ningbo China, Ningbo, China

    Hing Kai Chan

  3. Nottingham University Business School China, University of Nottingham Ningbo China, Ningbo, China

    Tiantian Zhang

  4. School for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Ming Xu

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Li, J., Xu, T., Wen, J., Gong, S., An, N. (2020). Estimation of Metal Values of Obsolete Mobile Phones: A Case of China. In: Chan, F.K.S., Chan, H.K., Zhang, T., Xu, M. (eds) Proceedings of the 2020 International Conference on Resource Sustainability: Sustainable Urbanisation in the BRI Era (icRS Urbanisation 2020). icRSUrbanisation 2020. Environmental Science and Engineering. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-9605-6_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-9605-6_1

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