TY - JOUR
T1 - Projection of waste quantities
T2 - The case of e-waste of the People's Republic of China
AU - CHUNG, Shan Shan
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2013 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2012/11
Y1 - 2012/11
N2 - Although waste quantification and projection are important data for waste management, the reliability of their results is difficult to verify. The present study attempted to identify the best waste quantification methods using e-waste quantification studies of mainland China as case studies. Large discrepancies in the predicted amounts of e-waste generated were found no matter whether the same or different methods of estimation are used. Moreover, even when agreements between studies were found, the agreed figures were not necessarily the correct figures. However, since without hindsight it is not possible to tell whether a projection figure is accurate, the convergence rule and a prudent approach to counting on studies conducted with meticulous scientific procedures should be adopted. Two worrying trends are noted. First, the transparency of data collection and computation methods in these studies was not high; second, irresponsible citation practices were found to have already spread to academic studies. As a result, leading organizations in the academic community should consider establishing a platform devoted to the reporting of false or dubious citations.
AB - Although waste quantification and projection are important data for waste management, the reliability of their results is difficult to verify. The present study attempted to identify the best waste quantification methods using e-waste quantification studies of mainland China as case studies. Large discrepancies in the predicted amounts of e-waste generated were found no matter whether the same or different methods of estimation are used. Moreover, even when agreements between studies were found, the agreed figures were not necessarily the correct figures. However, since without hindsight it is not possible to tell whether a projection figure is accurate, the convergence rule and a prudent approach to counting on studies conducted with meticulous scientific procedures should be adopted. Two worrying trends are noted. First, the transparency of data collection and computation methods in these studies was not high; second, irresponsible citation practices were found to have already spread to academic studies. As a result, leading organizations in the academic community should consider establishing a platform devoted to the reporting of false or dubious citations.
KW - E-waste generation
KW - Electrical and electronic waste
KW - People's Republic of China
KW - waste quantification
KW - WEEE disposal
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84868118410&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/0734242X11417986
DO - 10.1177/0734242X11417986
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 21930524
AN - SCOPUS:84868118410
SN - 0734-242X
VL - 30
SP - 1130
EP - 1137
JO - Waste Management and Research
JF - Waste Management and Research
IS - 11
ER -