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E-Waste Upcycling Platform

電子廢棄物是全球增長最快的廢物流之一。印刷電路板（PCB）幾乎存在於所有電子設備中——金屬被回收後，非金屬部分往往進入堆填區。我們的挑戰：在 PCB 進入破壞性回收之前，為其建立一條再生路線

Electronic waste is one of the fastest-growing waste streams globally. PCBs are found in nearly every electronic device — after metal extraction, the non-metal components often end up in landfills. 

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How might we create a regenerative pathway for waste PCB before it enters destructive recycling? 

Circular Design Project | Graduate Course | 2026

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We walked into WEEE·PARK and saw firsthand where discarded circuit boards end up in the current recycling system. Online interviews with industry experts filled in the gaps in our understanding.

 

What we found:

  • The system is designed for material recovery, with the rest heading to landfill

  • The outputs feed back into manufacturing 

  • Low-value PCBs are transported to designated landfills under the Environmental Protection Department

 

PCB's journey is one-way — from product to waste, with no way back.

Field Visit :The "End Point" of E-Waste

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Market Trends

DIY culture and the maker movement are growing. More people are making things by hand. There’s rising interest in handcrafted upcycled items and sustainable lifestyles.

But when we looked at the DIY kit market, we saw a gap.

Most kits fall into two categories: traditional crafts (candles, embroidery) or electronics programming (Arduino, STEM kits). No one is tackling e-waste craft kits.

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“That’s when we asked ourselves: could we turn e-waste into a raw material for making — and make that experience accessible to anyone?”
But we didn’t want to assume the answer was yes. So we tested it — with a hands-on workshop.
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In this workshop, we create artworks using printed circuit boards (PCBs) as the material, transforming what is originally hidden inside electronic devices into objects that can be redesigned and expressed.

The feedback shaped everything.

People were curious, but they needed clearer guidance. Safety was a real concern — they wanted to know the material was clean and safe to touch. And most importantly, when the finished piece looked good, they stopped seeing it as “waste.”

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Workshop table setup

Help participants cut the chains

Complete the lifestyle probe

Hard to drill on PCB

Encounter connecting problem

Carefully glue the parts together

Participants were intrigued by the material, but they also told us what they needed to feel comfortable and capable. We used that feedback to iterate the DIY kit.

 

The kit evolved into four components:

A. Reused PCB Materials: Pre-cleaned and edge-treated PCB pieces — in selected shapes and sizes — with optional decorative electronic components. We learned from the workshop that safety and presentation matter.

 

B. Accessories: Jump rings, keychain rings, necklace chains, hair clip bases, beads, and adhesives. Giving users options made the experience feel personal, not prescribed.

 

C. Assisted Tools: Sandpaper, tweezers, cleaning cloth, and a small storage bag. The simpler we made the tool set, the more confident participants felt.

 

D. Guidance & Story: A step-by-step instruction sheet, inspiration examples, and a QR code for tutorials and community sharing. We realised that “how to” matters as much as “what to make.”The workshop taught us that the material alone isn‘t enough. People need context, confidence, and a sense of creative ownership. The kit was designed to deliver all three.

DIY Kit

The platform provides:DIY Kits — Pre-cleaned PCB pieces, accessories, tools, and step-by-step guidanceMaterial Stories — Each kit includes the origin story of the PCBCommunity Sharing — A space for users to share creations, access tutorials, and join the circular conversationCreator Support — A platform for designers and makers to gain exposure and income

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