Feasibility Study of Closed-Loop Recycling for Plastic Generated from Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) in South Korea
Plastics follow a linear economic structure, leading to detrimental environmental effects, such as global warming and ecosystem destruction, through incineration and accumulation throughout their life cycle. This study examined the types, potential generation amounts, and properties of recycled plas...
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MDPI AG
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/17/6358 |
| _version_ | 1797582587103805440 |
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| author | Won Hee Choi Kook Pyo Pae Nam Seok Kim Hong Yoon Kang Yong Woo Hwang |
| author_facet | Won Hee Choi Kook Pyo Pae Nam Seok Kim Hong Yoon Kang Yong Woo Hwang |
| author_sort | Won Hee Choi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Plastics follow a linear economic structure, leading to detrimental environmental effects, such as global warming and ecosystem destruction, through incineration and accumulation throughout their life cycle. This study examined the types, potential generation amounts, and properties of recycled plastics from waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) to assess the feasibility of the closed-loop recycling of plastics from WEEE under South Korea’s EPR system. Actual data from companies were used to determine the factors, such as the processing volume of WEEE. As of 2021, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (53,363 tons), polypropylene (14,320 tons), and polystyrene (8199 tons) were the recycled plastics produced by both large and small WEEE. The properties of recycled plastics meet the specifications of new electrical and electronic products. In addition, an analysis using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology showed that the recycling effect (avoided emissions) reached 262,033 tons of CO<sub>2</sub> eq. per year. Therefore, closed-loop recycling is the most suitable and effective method for reducing greenhouse gases. This paper presents the potential amount of recycled plastics generated from WEEE within South Korea’s regulatory framework, providing valuable foundational data for policy development for promoting the use of recycled plastics. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:23:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-33783ccadba84c7b8b4fbf9d2095a62b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:23:21Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-33783ccadba84c7b8b4fbf9d2095a62b2023-11-19T08:06:47ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732023-09-011617635810.3390/en16176358Feasibility Study of Closed-Loop Recycling for Plastic Generated from Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) in South KoreaWon Hee Choi0Kook Pyo Pae1Nam Seok Kim2Hong Yoon Kang3Yong Woo Hwang4Program in Circular Economy Environmental System, INHA University, Incheon 22012, Republic of KoreaProgram in Circular Economy Environmental System, INHA University, Incheon 22012, Republic of KoreaProgram in Circular Economy Environmental System, INHA University, Incheon 22012, Republic of KoreaProgram in Circular Economy Environmental System, INHA University, Incheon 22012, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Environmental Engineering, INHA University, Incheon 22012, Republic of KoreaPlastics follow a linear economic structure, leading to detrimental environmental effects, such as global warming and ecosystem destruction, through incineration and accumulation throughout their life cycle. This study examined the types, potential generation amounts, and properties of recycled plastics from waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) to assess the feasibility of the closed-loop recycling of plastics from WEEE under South Korea’s EPR system. Actual data from companies were used to determine the factors, such as the processing volume of WEEE. As of 2021, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (53,363 tons), polypropylene (14,320 tons), and polystyrene (8199 tons) were the recycled plastics produced by both large and small WEEE. The properties of recycled plastics meet the specifications of new electrical and electronic products. In addition, an analysis using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology showed that the recycling effect (avoided emissions) reached 262,033 tons of CO<sub>2</sub> eq. per year. Therefore, closed-loop recycling is the most suitable and effective method for reducing greenhouse gases. This paper presents the potential amount of recycled plastics generated from WEEE within South Korea’s regulatory framework, providing valuable foundational data for policy development for promoting the use of recycled plastics.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/17/6358closed-loop recyclingwaste electrical and electronic equipmentcircular economyrecycled plasticgreenhouse gasesExtended Producer Responsibility |
| spellingShingle | Won Hee Choi Kook Pyo Pae Nam Seok Kim Hong Yoon Kang Yong Woo Hwang Feasibility Study of Closed-Loop Recycling for Plastic Generated from Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) in South Korea Energies closed-loop recycling waste electrical and electronic equipment circular economy recycled plastic greenhouse gases Extended Producer Responsibility |
| title | Feasibility Study of Closed-Loop Recycling for Plastic Generated from Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) in South Korea |
| title_full | Feasibility Study of Closed-Loop Recycling for Plastic Generated from Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) in South Korea |
| title_fullStr | Feasibility Study of Closed-Loop Recycling for Plastic Generated from Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) in South Korea |
| title_full_unstemmed | Feasibility Study of Closed-Loop Recycling for Plastic Generated from Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) in South Korea |
| title_short | Feasibility Study of Closed-Loop Recycling for Plastic Generated from Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) in South Korea |
| title_sort | feasibility study of closed loop recycling for plastic generated from waste electrical and electronic equipment weee in south korea |
| topic | closed-loop recycling waste electrical and electronic equipment circular economy recycled plastic greenhouse gases Extended Producer Responsibility |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/17/6358 |
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