Article
Engineering, Environmental
Irdanto Saputra Lase, Kim Ragaert, Jo Dewulf, Steven De Meester
Summary: The Circular Plastics Alliance initiative aims to increase the use of recycled plastics, with the goal of reaching 10 million tons by 2025, leading to an increased demand for regranulates in Belgium and the Netherlands. Research focuses on the potential use of regranulates in household appliances like vacuum cleaners, coffee machines, and electric shavers, with a model developed to predict the amount of waste electronic and electrical equipment generated in 2030. Improved collection rates and pre-processing efficiency are highlighted as necessary to achieve the target of using recycled content in electrical and electronic equipment.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2021)
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Dhiya Durani Sofian Azizi, Marlia M. Hanafiah, Kok Sin Woon
Summary: Recently, there has been significant interest in the material flow analysis (MFA) of waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) as a decision-making tool for sustainable WEEE management. However, there is a lack of review studies on the development of MFA in WEEE management. In this study, 115 MFA studies published between 2010 and 2022 were analyzed to provide an overview of research progress and recommendations for future studies. The analysis revealed an increase in MFA studies in major OECD nations, but limited research in concentrated areas of WEEE, particularly in non-OECD countries. Furthermore, there is a lack of studies addressing uncertainty analysis, circular economy, and life cycle analysis in MFA research.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Lien-Chieh Lee, Lili Zhang, Xi Chen, Shusheng Gui, Shaobo Zhou
Summary: Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is an inevitable waste in modern society, containing valuable and harmful materials. China has established a WEEE management system to address pollution issues. Importers and manufacturers of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) pay treatment fees to facilitate recycling. In 2020, 45 million sets of WEEE were certified for recycling, with TVs, refrigerators, washing machines, computers, and air conditioners being the main items. Spatial analysis shows that recycling activities are concentrated in the mid-east and east regions of China.
ENVIRONMENT DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Haikal Ismail, Marlia M. Hanafiah
Summary: The study evaluated the environmental performance of current e-waste management in Malaysia and found that direct incineration with energy recovery was the best option. The results were contrary to expectations and recommendations were made to improve assessment methods for sustainable e-waste management.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Gratien Twagirayezu, Abias Uwimana, Huang Kui, Christian Sekomo Birame, Olivier Irumva, Jean Claude Nizeyimana, Hongguang Cheng
Summary: The consumption of electric and electronic equipment (EEE) in developing countries has reached alarming levels, leading to the generation of massive amounts of electronic waste (e-waste). A diagnosis of e-waste proliferation in Rwanda is necessary to establish a sustainable management plan. The Rwandan national plans prioritize the use of information communication and technology (ICT) tools, considering ICT as an essential driver for a knowledge-based economy and development. However, outdated EEE is being dumped as e-waste in large quantities and at an increasing rate in Rwanda, often disposed together with other household waste. Consequently, proper e-waste management strategies including sorting/separation, repairs, reuse, recycling, remanufacturing, and disposal have been proposed to address this growing threat and safeguard the environment and human health.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Michelle A. Wagner, Jaco Huisman, Amund N. Lovik, Hina Habib, Paul Mahlitz, Ester van der Voet
Summary: This article discusses the importance of secondary raw materials in urban mines for modern technology, as well as the challenges in quantifying material recovery. By analyzing the element concentrations in printed circuit boards, structured information for studying product trends is provided.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Isabel Correa Nunes, Eloiza Kohlbeck, Fernanda Hansch Beuren, Alexandre Borges Fagundes, Delcio Pereira
Summary: Market competition driven by planned obsolescence of electronic products leads to increased waste generation. Product-Service Systems serve as a sustainable business alternative, and the study integrates environmental management models and techniques, including Life Cycle Analysis. The research conducted an analysis using SIMAPRO(R) software on discarded cell phone LCD screens, revealing the environmental and social impacts of incineration processes.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Jennifer Pollard, Mohamed Osmani, Christine Cole, Suzana Grubnic, James Colwill
Summary: This research developed a Circular Economy Business Model Innovation Process Framework through collaborative workshops with key stakeholders in the electrical and electronic equipment sector, providing manufacturers with a systematic approach to integrating the circular economy. The Framework, consisting of five interconnected layers, addresses factors such as business strategy, challenges, opportunities, and policies, enabling manufacturers to develop and implement a circular economy business model tailored to their offerings.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kunle Ibukun Olatayo, Paul T. Mativenga, Annlize L. Marnewick
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the vulnerability of countries to resource constraints and increased the demand for plastic, especially for PPE. Despite the relatively smaller mass flow of PPE in the total national plastic during the ongoing pandemic, the growing number of separate PPE items presents a major issue for waste management systems.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Urban Studies
Michael Osei Asibey, Rudith Sylvana King, Anne Mette Lykke, Daniel Kweku Baah Inkoom
Summary: This paper examines urban planners' perspectives on the e-waste conundrum and corresponding urban planning response. Findings indicate that urban planning in Ghana has been ineffective in shaping the e-waste sector positively, showing a lack of future-oriented initiatives and policies. Efforts should focus on increasing awareness, integrating informal e-waste recycling, and developing an efficient institutional framework for a more sustainable urban environment.
Article
Environmental Studies
Lucia Helena Xavier, Ellen Cristine Giese, Ana Cristina Ribeiro-Duthie, Fernando Antonio Freitas Lins
Summary: The concept of circular economy, focusing on reuse and recirculation of products and materials, has the potential to reduce demand for raw materials, minimize resource consumption, create job opportunities, and prevent negative impacts from natural resource exploitation. Urban mining techniques offer a sustainable way to manage e-waste, recover materials, reduce primary material intake, and stimulate circularity in the supply chain.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Joel Millward-Hopkins, Phil Purnell, Sharon Baurley
Summary: In the past, clothing was a significant expense for UK citizens and was carefully preserved and passed down through generations. However, in the 21st century, it only takes a short amount of work at minimum wage to buy clothes that are often discarded after a few uses. UK's clothing consumption is much higher than the global average, relying on international supply chains that have environmental and social issues. In order to move towards ecological sustainability, it is important to gather data on clothing flows and improve recycling rates, as well as reduce new clothing consumption.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yingqi Lu, Bo Yang, Yichun Gao, Zhenming Xu
Summary: Recycling e-waste is important for eliminating environmental pollution and recovering critical materials. Current recycling methods involve manual labor for sorting waste ECs, which poses health risks. Automatic solutions are necessary to replace labor for efficient and safe sorting.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Ben Madden, Melita Jazbec, Nick Florin
Summary: With Australians consuming over 2-billion litres of fresh milk annually, milk bottle packaging is a significant source of plastic packaging waste in Australia. In 2019-20, only 5% of the high-density-polyethylene (HDPE) plastic used in milk bottles was recycled, contributing to overall HDPE packaging waste. A study was conducted to analyze the milk bottle supply and end-of-life management system, and findings showed that improving collection rate and implementing dedicated container collections could significantly increase recycling rates and promote a circular packaging economy.
SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Daniela Gavrilescu, Ani s oara Enache, Dumitria Ibanescu, Carmen Teodosiu, Silvia Fiore
Summary: The evaluation of WEEE management systems focuses on recycling and environmental, economic, and social impacts, requiring a methodology that addresses the entire WEEE lifecycle and sustainable development. A study successfully tested a methodology dedicated to the WEEE stream in Romania, revealing mixed performance with low collection rates and nonexistent reuse rates being main issues.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yui Kawasaki, Sayaka Nagao-Sato, Misa Shimpo, Kahori Fujisaki, Emi Yoshii, Rie Akamatsu, Petra Warschburger
Summary: This study qualitatively describes sustainable dietary behaviors (SDBs) that Japanese and German adults can implement in their lives, and quantitatively compares the similarities and differences in understanding SDBs between the two samples. The study found that Japanese participants were more focused on food waste prevention, while German participants were more focused on solving environmental problems.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Kechun Chen, Yuan Ding, Liming Yang, Zhihao Wang, Haoxuan Yu, Difan Fang, Yufa Feng, Liying Hu, Chenxi Xu, Penghui Shao, Xubiao Luo, Liang Chen
Summary: This study proposes a targeted repair scheme for the recovery of graphite anodes from spent LIBs by systematically characterizing and analyzing the structure and composition of spent graphite (SG). The results show that the repair scheme achieves effective SG repair and the repaired graphite anode displays excellent lithium storage performance.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Takao Ueda, Shigeki Koyanaka, Tatsuya Oki
Summary: Fires caused by accidental crushing of batteries are a serious issue in the e-waste recycling process. A new in-line sorting system that uses X-ray scanning and deep learning has been developed to accurately detect batteries. Through a validation study, the system achieved higher accuracy compared to other existing programs.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Hannes Geist, Frank Balle
Summary: Research on circular economy often lacks empirical data, especially in the theory of circular process design and design for remanufacturing. This study systematically collected and analyzed engineering data on seven remanufacturing processes in the European automotive remanufacturing industry for the first time, providing empirical support for circular engineering challenges, potentials, and solutions.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xiaojing Li, Fan Lue, Nanlin Liao, Hua Zhang, Na Yang, Pinjing He
Summary: This study assesses and predicts the greenhouse gas emissions on the timeline as waste treatment technologies develop in Shanghai from 1991 to 2025 using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology. The findings demonstrate that GHG emission has reached net-zero in 2019 owing to the application of alternative technologies and waste segregation.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Bingchun Liu, Haoyang Wang, Xiaoqin Liang, Yibo Wang, Zijie Feng
Summary: The expansion of the photovoltaic market has resulted in a significant increase in PV waste. Therefore, conducting scientific research to determine the importance of the circular economy for sustainable growth in the PV industry is essential. The study demonstrates that accurate prediction of PV installed capacity and quantifying the importance of recycling in balancing the supply and demand of raw materials can be achieved through a multi-factor installed capacity prediction model and recovery potential prediction.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2024)
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Chuanzhen Zhang, Baojing Gu, Xia Liang, Shu Kee Lam, Yi Zhou, Deli Chen
Summary: Reactive nitrogen is crucial for agriculture and human nutrition, but mismanagement can have detrimental effects on human health and ecosystem services, hindering the achievement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. Progress towards nitrogen-related targets varies across countries, highlighting the need for integrated management to achieve overall synergies.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Alessandro Gatto, Marijke Kuiper, Corina van Middelaar, Hans van Meijl
Summary: This study examines the economic and environmental effects of transitioning towards more circular food systems in the European Union (EU27) by feeding animals with low-opportunity-cost feed and better utilizing local feed resources. The results show that providing subsidies for circularity and promoting the use of low-cost feed can increase animal production, but also have negative impacts on land use and emissions. On the other hand, promoting domestic feed sourcing through import tariffs can decrease animal production and greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture. However, complementary policies are needed to mitigate drawbacks and enhance benefits of a more circular agri-food system.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jinbo Zhang, Liu Chen, Yulei Xie, Pingjian Yang, Zheng Li, Huaicheng Guo, Yang Zhang, Lirong Liu
Summary: This study examines the impact of carbon taxes on low-carbon development and climate change mitigation. By constructing a cross-system bi-layer model, the study finds that reasonable carbon taxes can promote the stability of the energy network, reduce carbon emissions and air pollutants, and optimize production efficiency and the structure of the energy system. This study contributes to a better understanding of the effects and implementation pathways of carbon taxes.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Konstantin Born, Mehmet Metehan Ciftci
Summary: Increasing recycling of metals is important for reducing reliance on mining, but it cannot fully meet future metal demand. Primary production of metals is expected to continue rising, highlighting the need for alternative circular economy strategies such as demand reduction and mitigating harmful impacts of primary metal production.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yinqiu Ma, Lin Huang, Jiahui Li, Wei Cao, Yumei Cai
Summary: Afforestation and reforestation, such as China's Grain for Green Program, have shown to effectively mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to carbon sink capacity. This study highlights the significant carbon potential of the program and its potential application in other countries to reduce CO2 in the atmosphere.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Arlind Dervishaj, Kjartan Gudmundsson
Summary: This paper reviews digital tools for supporting the Circular Economy (CE) in the built environment and provides suggestions. The study identifies limitations in the functionalities of current tools, including a lack of representative data for LCA and underdeveloped circularity indicators. Further development is needed in terms of interoperability aspects, integration of more sources of data for LCA and circularity, and possibilities for a comprehensive evaluation of design choices.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Mohamadreza Y. Azarfam, Anuj Maheshwari, Frank D. Blum, Siddhesh Chaudhari, Clinton Switzer, Ranji Vaidyanathan, Jay C. Hanan, Sudheer Bandla
Summary: This study introduces a feasible method for manufacturing recycled composites using post-consumer carpets and recycled resin. The resulting composites have impressive strength and modulus, surpassing commercial thermoplastics and making them suitable for structural applications. This research presents a promising approach to address carpet landfilling and reduce reliance on additives.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Pujiang Shi, Tianle Huang, Hong Kit Lim, Chiew Kei Tan, Jong-Min Lee, Chor Yong Tay
Summary: This study developed a highly porous bioadaptive 3D sponge-like construct from plastic materials in discarded keyboards for advanced in vitro applications. The findings demonstrate the potential of using discarded keyboards as a waste-to-resource feedstock to achieve waste reduction and maximize value-capture.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Kuo-Jui Wu, Hailing Qiu, Caiyan Huang, Anthony S. F. Chiu, Ming-Lang Tseng
Summary: Government resource allocation practices for achieving carbon neutrality should be guided by dynamic system theory to identify potential dynamics. Carbon intensity control dynamics have a significant influence on other dynamics.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2024)