A Systems Approach to Sustainable Electronic Waste Management for a Circular Economy

Funding: Self-funded

Project description

The rapid growth in the production and consumption of consumer electronics, including mobile phones, televisions, and laptops, has created a major environmental challenge. The UK generates around 6 million tonnes of electronic waste annually, among the highest per capita rates in the world, yet less than a third is recycled. As a result, valuable materials such as gold, copper, and indium are lost to landfill, while hazardous pollutants are released into air, water, and soils, driving resource depletion, ecosystem degradation, and risks to human and environmental health.

This PhD project aims to transform the current take-make-dispose economy into a circular model through a systems-based approach. The research will integrate advanced computational modelling, optimisation, and data science with experimental investigations to develop strategies for maximising resource recovery and minimising environmental burdens. Material flow analysis (MFA) will be applied to track the generation, recovery, and loss of critical materials, while techno-economic and life-cycle assessments will evaluate the sustainability performance of different recovery pathways. Machine learning techniques will enhance predictions of material flows and system performance, supported by experimental studies that validate models and explore feasible technologies for reducing environmental impacts. Key research components include:

• Computational modelling and optimisation: Simulation and optimisation of electronic waste recovery pathways using tools such as Matlab, Python, and GAMS. Advanced data analytics and machine learning techniques will also be applied to predict material flows and system performance.

• Sustainability assessment: Rigorous sustainability evaluation including techno-economic analysis (TEA) and environmental life-cycle assessment (LCA). LCA software such as SimaPro will be applied.

• Experimental validation: Laboratory-based investigations to explore feasible technologies for material recovery and validate computational models.

By combining these approaches, the project will identify optimal recycling and recovery strategies for consumer electronics, providing evidence to mitigate pollution, conserve resources, and support sustainable environmental management. The research will contribute to more sustainable resource management in the UK and beyond, while the candidate will gain interdisciplinary expertise spanning systems engineering, environmental science, data analytics, and experimental methods, preparing them for impactful careers in sustainable resource management.