WEEE Flow for Magnets

The recovery of Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) poses a significant challenge in the realm of solid waste management. With the global urgency to develop innovative disposal methods for WEEE, the creation of value chains that facilitate the recovery of valuable secondary raw materials is crucial. This paper explores a value network formulated specifically for the recovery and reuse of magnets from WEEE. To this direction, we introduce a holistic Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) model, capable to optimise the material flows and the total cost incurred within the value network. Interestingly, our model integrates the proposed policies and directives of the European Commission (EC), aiming to devise a strategy that efficiently blends secondary and virgin magnetic materials to minimize total energy costs. We validate our modeling approach through a set of computational results, applying sensitivity analysis to assess the robustness of the proposed solutions under specific fluctuations in the energy cost. We conclude with the introduction of a two-stage stochastic model that extends the deterministic framework of the MILP, offering broader applicability and resilience in planning.