Upscaling Electronics Repair to Support a Circular Economy in Sweden: A Focus on Cellphones Through the Lens of Policy Intervention

Sammanfattning: E-waste is a growing waste problem around the world, and Sweden is no exception. However, the Swedish WEEE system is having issues combating the problem – particularly when it comes to cellphones. The aim of this research is to develop an understanding of the Swedish WEEE system in practice when it comes to cellphones, to explore what benefits actors in the Swedish system reap from choices to repair or recycle cellphones, and to gain an understanding of which actors receive those benefits from repairing or recycling cellphones in Sweden. This research was in collaboration with the Swedish Ministry of the Environment. My three research questions were: (1) How does the Swedish WEEE system function in practice when it comes to cellphones? (2) What benefits do actors in WEEE gain from participating in the repair of cellphones vs the recycling of cellphones? and (3) What actors benefit from choices to repair cellphones vs recycle those cellphones in Sweden? The methods of data collection were semi-structured interviews and audio-visual materials. I collected interview data and web-materials. My methods of data analysis were synthesis matrixes and computer-assisted content analysis. My study had 11 thematic findings. When these findings were put into the context of existing research, I made several insights: (1) When it comes to phones, Sweden’s WEEE system is complicated, (2) Understanding of the phone repair benefits-actors dynamic has been improved, (3) Understanding of the phone recycle benefits-actors dynamic has been improved. And lastly, I found that actors are invested in (4) The future of repair and overcoming obstacles to repair. In conclusion, Sweden’s WEEE system is complicated, as are the dynamics surrounding “benefits and actors” in phone repair and recycling. Future research could explore what complex value actors in the Swedish WEEE system gain from recycling cellphones vs repairing them.