Use, Storage, and Disposal of Electronic Equipment in Switzerland
Open accessAbstract
Electronic devices contain important resources, including precious and critical raw materials. For an efficient management of these resources, it is important to know where the devices are located, how long they are used and when and how they are disposed of. In this article, we explore the past and current quantities of electronic devices in the in-use stock and storage stock in Switzerland and quantify the flows between the use, storage and disposal phase with dynamic material flow analysis (MFA). Devices included are mobile phones, desktop and laptop computers, monitors, cathode ray tube and flat panel display televisions, DVD players, and headphones. The system for the dynamic MFA was developed as a cascade model dividing the use phase in first, second and further use, with each of these steps consisting of an in-use stock and a storage stock for devices. Using a customized software tool, we apply Monte Carlo simulation to systematically consider data uncertainty. The results highlight the importance of the storage stock, which accounts for 25% (in terms of mass) or 40% (in terms of pieces) of the total stock of electronic devices in 2014. Reuse and storage significantly influence the total lifetime of devices and lead to wide and positively skewed lifetime distributions.
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Hibernation extends the apparent lifetime of mobile phones and smartphones from 3 to 7 years, and for desktops and laptops from 5 to 8 and 9 years respectively.
“The same authors estimated that hibernation extends the apparent lifetime of mobile phones and smartphones from 3 to 7 years, and for desktops and laptops from 5 to 8 and 9 years respectively.”
From Material efficiency strategies to reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with buildings, vehicles, and electronics—a review (2019) · cites this paper as [205]
Hibernating stock accounted for about 25% in mass of the total in-use stock of electronic devices in Switzerland in 2014.
“For instance, Thièbaud et al [205] found that the hibernating stock accounted for about 25% in mass of the total in-use stock of electronic devices in Switzerland in 2014.”
From Material efficiency strategies to reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with buildings, vehicles, and electronics—a review (2019) · cites this paper as [205]
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- Authors
- Thiébaud, E., Hilty, L. M., Schluep, M., & Faulstich, M.
- Affiliations
- Empa (CH)
- University of Zurich (CH)
- World Resources Forum (WRF), Lerchenfeldstrasse 5, CH-9014 St. Gallen, Switzerland
- Clausthal University of Technology (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Thiébaud, Esther
- Venue
- Environmental Science & Technology
- Publisher
- American Chemical Society (ACS)
- Published
- 2017-03-28
- Volume
- 51
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 4494-4502
- ISSN
- 0013-936X (ISSN-L)
- 1520-5851
- OpenAlex
- W2602546964
- Cited by
- 34
- References
- 31
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 4
- FWCI
- 3.95
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- doi.org
- Locations
- Environmental Science & Technology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (acceptedVersion)
- DORA Empa (Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa)) (submittedVersion)
- Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (submittedVersion)
- Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich)
- Funders
- Eidgen?ssische Materialpr?fungs- und Forschungsanstalt
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Waste Management and Disposal › Recycling and Waste Management Techniques
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Engineering › Sustainability and Ecological Systems Analysis
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Engineering › Environmental Impact and Sustainability
- Keywords
- electronic devices, electronic waste, in-use stocks, device reuse, device lifetime, dynamic material flow analysis, cascade model, mobile devices, computers, television, data uncertainty, Monte Carlo simulation, Switzerland
- MeSH terms
- Electronics, Microcomputers, Models, Theoretical, Refuse Disposal, Switzerland, Cathode Ray Tube
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