Quality aspects in the sector of waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE)

Abstract

This paper presents that quality marks do not only refer to the design phase (e.g. recycling equitable design or design for environment) but also to the process chain after the end of use. The configuration of possible QM-systems in WEEE recycling strongly depends on the demands they are driven by the following main recommendations: (1) The envisaged ways of recycling or reusing components will have different demands than a material treatment. (2) Reusing materials can be different in same usage, upgrade or downgrade of materials. (3) The materials that are utilized in products, e.g. the treatment of hazardous or precious materials. (4) The quantity and (5) the loss of quality until the end-of-life and available information about the influences during use period.