It is impossible for WEEE or E-Stewards or R2 to design a system which prevents generation of scrap from elective upgrades. Examples of elective upgrades are replacement of RAM with faster RAM, replacement of 110 volt power supplies with 220v (rather than adding an adapter), upgrade of CRT monitors into monitor-tv combination. "Fully functional" can produce the exact same fallout as "repair and overhaul".
This German report (page 18) envisions a need to prevent exports where
THE NICE WORKING ONE IS WASTE, THE SECOND IS IN DEMAND
Both were assembled by contract manufacturer AOC, but the second (non functional) is a type the factory needs. If an E-Steward sends the second one "tested working" and pristine, however, it will be torn down exactly as if it had damaged plastic. This is because the factory voluntarily, electively upgrades all the products it buys to like-new condition.
This German report (page 18) envisions a need to prevent exports where
"d) the appearance is generally worn or damaged, thus reducing the marketability of the item(s)"This appears to assume that exporters from the USA or EU primarily trade directly with retail and reusemarkets. EPA's 2008 Report on used CRT exports documented that this is a relatively small portion of the export market; "white box" market re-manufacturers constitute the lion's share of exports. And if you send the factory below two computer monitors, one a fully functional Dell D1226H 19"inch UltraScan with a pristine casing (per instructions in the German report), and a second no-power Dell 19" C02-MON-WMSV049S with scuffed, scratched, cracked, ugly plastic casing, the result will be:
THE NICE WORKING ONE IS WASTE, THE SECOND IS IN DEMAND
Both were assembled by contract manufacturer AOC, but the second (non functional) is a type the factory needs. If an E-Steward sends the second one "tested working" and pristine, however, it will be torn down exactly as if it had damaged plastic. This is because the factory voluntarily, electively upgrades all the products it buys to like-new condition.
FULLY FUNCTIONAL - export for reuse - UPGRADE = REPLACED PART
