Exploring Social Dynamics of Hard-Disk Drives Circularity with an Agent-Based Approach

Julien Walzberg; Kali Frost; Fu Zhao; Alberta Carpenter; Garvin Heath

doi:10.1109/SusTech51236.2021.9467439

Exploring Social Dynamics of Hard-Disk Drives Circularity with an Agent-Based Approach

Julien Walzberg, Kali Frost, Fu Zhao, Alberta Carpenter, Garvin Heath

Strategic Energy Analysis Center

Purdue University

Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review

3 Scopus Citations

Abstract

By 2025, it is estimated that installed data storage in the U.S. will be 2.2 Zettabytes, generating about 50 million units of end-of-life hard-disk drives (HDDs) per year. The circular economy (CE) tackles waste issues by maximizing value retention in the economy, for instance, through reuse and recycling. However, the reuse of hard disk drives is hindered by the lack of trust organizations have toward other means of data removal than physically destroying HDDs. Here, an agent-based approach explores how organizations' decisions to adopt other data removal means affect HDDs' circularity. The model applies the theory of planned behavior to model the decisions of HDDs end-users. Results demonstrate that the attitude (which is affected by trust) of end-users toward data-wiping technologies acts as a barrier to reuse. Moreover, social pressure can play a significant role as organizations that adopt CE behaviors can set an example for others.

Original language	American English
Number of pages	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/SusTech51236.2021.9467439 https://doi.org/10.1109/SusTech51236.2021.9467439
State	Published - 22 Apr 2021
Event	8th IEEE Conference on Technologies for Sustainability, SusTech 2021 - Virtual, Online, United States Duration: 22 Apr 2021 → 24 Apr 2021

Conference

Conference	8th IEEE Conference on Technologies for Sustainability, SusTech 2021
Country/Territory	United States
City	Virtual, Online
Period	22/04/21 → 24/04/21

Bibliographical note

See NREL/CP-6A20-79041 for preprint

NREL Publication Number

NREL/CP-6A20-81008

Keywords

agent-based modeling
Circular economy
hard-disk drives
socio-technical systems
theory of planned behavior

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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Cite this

Walzberg, J., Frost, K., Zhao, F., Carpenter, A., & Heath, G. (2021). Exploring Social Dynamics of Hard-Disk Drives Circularity with an Agent-Based Approach. Paper presented at 8th IEEE Conference on Technologies for Sustainability, SusTech 2021, Virtual, Online, United States. https://doi.org/10.1109/SusTech51236.2021.9467439, https://doi.org/10.1109/SusTech51236.2021.9467439

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Walzberg, J, Frost, K, Zhao, F, Carpenter, A & Heath, G 2021, 'Exploring Social Dynamics of Hard-Disk Drives Circularity with an Agent-Based Approach', Paper presented at 8th IEEE Conference on Technologies for Sustainability, SusTech 2021, Virtual, Online, United States, 22/04/21 - 24/04/21. https://doi.org/10.1109/SusTech51236.2021.9467439, https://doi.org/10.1109/SusTech51236.2021.9467439

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AU - Walzberg, Julien

AU - Frost, Kali

AU - Zhao, Fu

AU - Carpenter, Alberta

AU - Heath, Garvin

N1 - See NREL/CP-6A20-79041 for preprint

PY - 2021/4/22

Y1 - 2021/4/22

N2 - By 2025, it is estimated that installed data storage in the U.S. will be 2.2 Zettabytes, generating about 50 million units of end-of-life hard-disk drives (HDDs) per year. The circular economy (CE) tackles waste issues by maximizing value retention in the economy, for instance, through reuse and recycling. However, the reuse of hard disk drives is hindered by the lack of trust organizations have toward other means of data removal than physically destroying HDDs. Here, an agent-based approach explores how organizations' decisions to adopt other data removal means affect HDDs' circularity. The model applies the theory of planned behavior to model the decisions of HDDs end-users. Results demonstrate that the attitude (which is affected by trust) of end-users toward data-wiping technologies acts as a barrier to reuse. Moreover, social pressure can play a significant role as organizations that adopt CE behaviors can set an example for others.

AB - By 2025, it is estimated that installed data storage in the U.S. will be 2.2 Zettabytes, generating about 50 million units of end-of-life hard-disk drives (HDDs) per year. The circular economy (CE) tackles waste issues by maximizing value retention in the economy, for instance, through reuse and recycling. However, the reuse of hard disk drives is hindered by the lack of trust organizations have toward other means of data removal than physically destroying HDDs. Here, an agent-based approach explores how organizations' decisions to adopt other data removal means affect HDDs' circularity. The model applies the theory of planned behavior to model the decisions of HDDs end-users. Results demonstrate that the attitude (which is affected by trust) of end-users toward data-wiping technologies acts as a barrier to reuse. Moreover, social pressure can play a significant role as organizations that adopt CE behaviors can set an example for others.

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ER -

Exploring Social Dynamics of Hard-Disk Drives Circularity with an Agent-Based Approach

Abstract

Conference

Bibliographical note

NREL Publication Number

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

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