Measuring Circularity of Small EEE Using a Product Recyclability Indicator (PRI): A Case Study from Australia

As global sustainability efforts move away from traditional linear models of production and consumption, the shift toward circular economy principles has become increasingly important. Small electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) are a significant focus in this transition, and assessing their recyclability is essential to encourage Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to adopt more sustainable product design and development practices. This study introduces a novel Product Recyclability Indicator (PRI) tailored for small EEE in Australia, developed using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method. The PRI incorporates three key criteria: Feasible Recyclability (FR), Recycled Content (RC), and Hazardous Material Reduction (HMR), with weightages assigned based on expert input. The results highlight that HMR plays the most critical role in determining the PRI, followed by FR. Among the four subcategories analysed, hot water EEE demonstrated the highest recyclability, while vacuum cleaners had the lowest scores, primarily due to their higher hazardous material content in the plastics. This tool provides valuable insights that can support the development of stewardship schemes by serving as a proxy for determining modulated fees for OEMs. It strengthens the case for incorporating Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) into policy design. Future work may expand this research by involving a larger pool of experts and applying the PRI framework across different manufacturers and product models.