From e-waste to robots: a case study on e-waste upcycling in low-to-middle income countries

Abstract

This paper provides details on a case study conducted into the upcycling of e-waste. E-waste is a global problem that is becoming an increasing burden on low-to-middle income countries. These low-to-middle income countries are the recipients of large volumes of e-waste per annum from higher income countries. In certain countries, precious metals are extracted from e-waste, however, this only marginally reduces the stockpiles of waste material, rendering much of it unusable. The objectives of this paper are to highlight the feasibility of re-engineering and upcycling e-waste as a workable route to waste management, using robotics as an example application area. Our methods included sourcing e-waste, identifying and isolating different usable parts from the waste, and re-engineering these into a flexible end effector with complete, coupled, rotational and translational freedom. We further develop active alternative control systems with passive elastic recovery. Our work shows there is feasibility in re-engineering e-waste to manufacture functional electro-mechanical products and devices, and that upcycling e-waste in this way is a step towards responsible e-waste management through engineering knowledge and practice. Our work also highlights some of the impracticalities and challenges involved in e-waste upcycling.