5. Discussion
The results of empirical analyses showed that environmentally
sensitive designs, also known as green product design, are
crucial product characteristics that elevate recoverability of electrical
and electronic equipments. Instead of designing products
that accommodate use of recycled material, design for disassembly
must be taken into consideration for value recovery purposes
whereas design for environment should be adopted for minimizing
threat of e-waste to the natural environment. Design for disassembly
facilitates accessibility and separability of modules, parts and
materials with secondary market value (Guide et al., 2000; Krikke
et al., 1998). This design aspect is a significant determinant to the
effectiveness of product disposition options. Consistent with multiple
recovery loop approach for minimizing volume of e-waste,
usable constituents are inspected to reuse in new and/or used
product assembly. If the types of joints, fasteners and connectors
administered during product assembly were complex and difficult
to separate, firms have to engage skilled labour to gather benefits
from backward flowing products. Some assembly materials can
only be separated by application of heat and force, such as welding,
adhesives and mechanical joints (i.e. irreversible snap fits). These
joints challenged extraction of valuables as either both conjoined
parts are susceptible to damages during disassembly or only part
with more value is reused by preserving its aesthetic value at the
expense of the other part. Disassemblability of products influences
both time-sensitive recovery (i.e. repair, recondition, remanufacture)
and cost-efficient recovery (i.e. recycle). However, this design
factor is insignificant to disposal activities as returns with limited