Current Practice of Managing the Waste of the Waste: Policy, Market, and Organisational Factors Influencing Shredder Fines Management in Sweden

Tharaka Gunaratne, Joakim Krook and Hans Andersson
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Tharaka Gunaratne: Division of Environmental Technology and Management, Linköping University, 581 83 Linköping, Sweden
Joakim Krook: Division of Environmental Technology and Management, Linköping University, 581 83 Linköping, Sweden
Hans Andersson: Business Administration Division, Linköping University, 581 83 Linköping, Sweden

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 22, 1-18

Abstract: The recycling-industry residue called shredder fines (fines) presents a disposal problem, incurs handling costs, and reduces resource efficiency in general. This study aims to identify the challenges of facilitating fines valorisation in the Swedish context. Hence, the shredding company perspective of the underlying factors that sustain the current practice of fines management is established by studying the case of a specific shredding company using semi-structured interviews. Utilisation in landfill covering offers the company a secure outlet and a legislatively-compliant low-cost disposal option for fines. Additionally, lack of specific regulatory standards, unfavourable regulation of waste reutilisation, and lack of market demand for secondary raw materials (SRMs) create disincentives to develop valorisation options. Also, the lack of corporate-level focus on the issue has resulted in a lack of organising for and capacities to improve the handling of the material. Initiating fines valorisation needs to challenge these prevailing circumstances and thus necessitates governmental interventions. Simultaneously, favourable conditions for SRM utilisation are needed; that is, established outlets for fines-derived SRMs and clear regulatory and market playing rules that reduce uncertainty and investment risk of developing tailored processes for upgrading and resource recovery need to be available.

Keywords: current practice; fines valorisation; policy; market; organisation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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