Smart Solutions: Improving Compliance in Waste Chains with Product Information Platforms

Electronic waste (“e-waste”) is the fastest growing waste stream globally, but its treatment and recycling are not always profitable. A key complicating factor in the waste chain is the lack of information on the “quality” of the waste, i.e., the value that can be recovered from it. This has inhibited enforcement of export regulations, which enables illegal export, and is a barrier to recycling for treatment operators, which can cause illegal dumping. A recent effort to overcome the information asymmetry about waste quality is the I4R platform in Europe, spearheaded by both industry leaders and governments. The central question we address in this article is whether an information exchange platform such as I4R should focus on resolving information asymmetry, enhancing the value of recycling, or both.