1. ANALYSIS OF THE E-WASTE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN THE CONTEXT OF CIRCULAR ECONOMY  ALBĂSTROIU IRINA, BUCUR MIHAELA AND NĂSTASE GABRIEL
Abstract: Quantities of electrical and electronic waste, on a global scale, are growing rapidly. This waste contains materials that can be recovered as secondary raw materials as well as hazardous materials and substances that can become dangerous to environment. In this context, managing electronic waste (or e-waste) is one of the most important worldwide problems.
Our approach takes into account the applicability of circular economy principles in lifecycle stages of the electronic products, in terms of key industry stakeholders involvement, consumers, authorities and civil society implication. The study highlights the main aspects on how waste should be properly managed at the end of the useful life of electrical and electronic equipment through recycling and revaluation, reducing as much as possible harmful effects on the environment.
The statistical data related to the level of e-waste collection and recycling in European Union, in general, and in Romania, in particular, indicates that only a small proportion of electronic waste is recycled and recovered.
To create an efficient management system for e-waste, some major elements are needed, namely:
infrastructure required to collect;
industry involvement in support recycling activities;
awareness and eventual incentive for consumers in order to return the used products;
monitoring and reporting systems.
Achieving high recycling performance is not possible without a concerted approach by all actors involved:
central authorities responsible for implementing legislation;
local authorities in charge of setting up municipal collection centers;
sanitation operators ;
companies that accept to assume the environmental obligations;
active participation of civil society.