Storing E-waste in Green Infrastructure to Reduce Perceived Value Loss through Landfill Siting and Landscaping: A Case Study in Nanjing, China

• Main Authors: Fu Chen, Xiaoxiao Li, Yongjun Yang, Huping Hou, Gang-Jun Liu, Shaoliang Zhang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-03-01
• Series: Sustainability
• Subjects: electronic waste; urban planning; waste disposal; public attitude; NIMBY syndrome
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/7/1829

Electronic waste (e-waste) represents a severe global environmental issue due to the fast upgrading and updating of electronic products and the high environmental risk. Current low recycling technology, high economic cost, and weak disposal capability make it difficult for e-waste to be rendered 100% harmless. E-waste disposal requires new site-selection methods and site-saving technology to take into account the loss of public perceived value. This study attempts to improve e-waste disposal through siting and landscaping to reduce perceived value loss. The first step is to determine the minimum distance for landfill siting by surveying the minimum loss of perceived value and to use the geographic information system (GIS) to sketch the suitable landfill site thereafter. To optimize the landfill landscape, a landscape infrastructure and its filling process have been designed to reduce the environmental risk and ensure future reuse potential. The application case showed that the minimum distance is 521 m, which was sensitive to the educational level and occupation of residents. The key to landfill landscaping is the construction of isolation layers and the integration of the landfill and urban landscape. The method described in this paper is characterized by minimizing the perceived loss of value to the public, reducing environmental risks, and preserving the resource value of e-waste. This design could provide an alternative to current electronic waste processing methods.