Feasibility Study of Closed-Loop Recycling for Plastic Generated from Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) in South Korea

Won Hee Choi, Kook Pyo Pae, Nam Seok Kim, Hong Yoon Kang and Yong Woo Hwang ()
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Won Hee Choi: Program in Circular Economy Environmental System, INHA University, Incheon 22012, Republic of Korea
Kook Pyo Pae: Program in Circular Economy Environmental System, INHA University, Incheon 22012, Republic of Korea
Nam Seok Kim: Program in Circular Economy Environmental System, INHA University, Incheon 22012, Republic of Korea
Hong Yoon Kang: Program in Circular Economy Environmental System, INHA University, Incheon 22012, Republic of Korea
Yong Woo Hwang: Department of Environmental Engineering, INHA University, Incheon 22012, Republic of Korea

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 17, 1-19

Abstract: 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 2 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.

Keywords: closed-loop recycling; waste electrical and electronic equipment; circular economy; recycled plastic; greenhouse gases; Extended Producer Responsibility (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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