Quality and Environmental Performance Indices for Electrical Appliance Recycling in Taiwan

Six recycling plants have started operation for recycling scrap home appliances since the spring of 2000 in Taiwan. The performance of the plants has not yet been measured during the 18-month period. The performance measurement, however, can be looked in several aspects. Because of the nature of these recycling plants, at least three aspects, namely government (representing general public), appliance manufacturers and owners of the recycling plants themselves should be considered in the performance evaluation. This study proposes various performance indices categorized in four groups: profitability, recyclability, automation and environment. The indices are different from the productivity and cost measures that are used in conventional manufacturing plants. Performances of three existing plants in Taiwan are evaluated as illustrative examples to demonstrate the use of the proposed measures. The practical implications of the performance indices are also discussed.