DESIGN FOR END-OF-LIFE OF SMALL ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES. CASE STUDY FOR ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSHES

Authors

  • DANIEL COLLADO-RUIZ U. POLITECNICA DE VALENCIA
  • MARIA JOSE BASTANTE CECA U. POLITECNICA DE VALENCIA
  • ANA RUESCAS-NICOLAU U. POLITECNICA DE VALENCIA
  • BELGICA PACHECO-BLANCO U. POLITECNICA DE VALENCIA
  • ROSARIO VIÑOLES-CEBOLLA U. POLITECNICA DE VALENCIA

Keywords:

Diseño para el Desmontaje, Residuos de Aparatos Eléctricos y Electrónicos, Ecodiseño, Fin de Vida.

Abstract

The strengthening of environmental legislation has fostered new requirements that products must comply with. Nowadays, manufacturers of electric and electronic appliances are made responsible for their product's revalorization, up to levels dictated by legislation. This paper deals with the optimization of electric toothbrush's end-of-life, using Design for Disassembly and Recycling methods. The goal for this is to fulfill the requirements established in Royal Decree 208/2005 on electrical and electronic equipment and the management of their waste. For this purpose, recyclability of several electric toothbrushes is assessed by using spine graphs. Based on its results, and considering the legal requirements, several improvement proposals are developed, to optimize disassembly and recycling. Key words: Design for Disassembly, Waste Electric and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), Ecodesign, End of life.

Published

2008-11-03

Issue

Section

ARTICULOS