While initiatives are trying to address societies towards a zero-waste economy and boost recycling,
manage waste and reduce resource use, new technological products such as smartphones,
computer and similar gadgets become an obstacle for the zero-waste society. This is happening
since these products use some materials that are difficult to reuse.
Consequently waste companies have to change their technologies so as to find a solution
regarding these products but it seems that recycling these gadgets is more expensive that buy new
materials.
Circular Economy & Urban Waste are the themes of two newly approved european projects; On
the one hand “NEW_InnoNeT” aims to stimulate circular economy mainly through reduction or
elimination of waste and fostering systemic eco-innovation. On the other hand, “UrBAN-
WASTE’s” purpose is to manage and cut the waste in the touristic cities as well as the support the
re-use, recycle, collection and disposal of waste, since cities can be key in the transition to a more circular economy.
Find out more: http://horizon-magazine.eu/article/tech-trends-undermine-move-zero-waste-economy_en.html