Optimisation of Electronic Waste Recycling Network and Reverse Logistics-A Literature Review

India is anticipating its marketplace to be flooded with consumer electronics and durables, as it is expecting a 15% CAGR growth in consumer electronics by 2015. According to ASSOCHAM, rise indisposable incomes and young demographic population of the country are contributing enormously to the rising demands. Easy financing options are encouraging the large middle-income groups of the country towards large scale consumption of consumer electronics. This results in high rates at which devices are getting outdated and getting replaced with new ones adding to electronic waste (e-waste). Such End-of-Life (EOL) devices are still left with value, as the rate at which replacement is taking place does not allow the consumer to fully utilize the product. Such leftover values could be recapitulated through activities, such as refurbishment and recycling with reverse logistics. The present process of e-waste management is analyzed and further improvements and modifications would be suggested.

While discussing the various industry practices of reverse logistics, the research paper deliberates importance for organisations to strategize and implement reverse logistics for better returns. Inspired by the reverse SCM in Army reverse pipelining the same has been visualised of improvement of reverse logistics in consumer-centric chains. Various challenges faced by organisations which are implementing the reverse SCM are also discussed and certain strategies are also conferred in the discussion.

This research paper also debatesa mixed-integer linear programming formulation for the formation of a reverse supply chain system for WEEE using optimisation-based warehouse location model for recapitulating the orphaned value from EOL products.