Business plan calculation tool for manual dismantling facilities

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), or e-waste, is the fastest growing waste stream and can cause harm to human health and the environment when not treated properly. Especially in developing countries e-waste is often treated under critical health conditions and inadequate technologies are causing negative environmental impacts. Without proper legal framework conditions and control mechanisms specialized formal and informal recyclers are using rudimentary methods focusing mainly on reclaiming valuable recycling fractions, like ferrous and non-ferrous metals, while dumping the hazardous ones. To improve this situation effective e-waste management strategies are required. The StEP-Business-Plan-Calculation-Tool supports entrepreneurs to set up an economic viable e-waste recycling business in an environmental sound manner. It can be further helpful for policy makers to understand the present economic framework conditions for e-waste recycling in their region. This paper gives an introduction into the design and structure of the calculation tool explaining its features. Further, possible use and benefits are illustrated.