Life Cycle Assessment of Resource Recovery Technologies in Electronic Waste Recycling in the United States

Abstract

Electronic waste (e-waste) presents considerable environmental difficulties and prospects for resource recovery. The United States produces millions of tons of electronic garbage each year, comprising toxic substances with valuable metals and rare earth elements. This study assesses the environmental effects of three common resource recovery processes in e-waste recycling—pyrometallurgy, hydrometallurgy, and biometallurgy—employing Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The research encompasses the complete life cycle of these systems, from e-waste collection to material recovery. Findings indicate that pyrometallurgy, although efficient for large-scale metal recovery, presents the greatest environmental impact due to its energy-intensive procedures. Hydrometallurgy exhibits modest effects with comparatively high recovery efficiency, although encounters difficulties concerning effluent control. Biometallurgy, an innovative technology, exhibits potential environmental advantages but is constrained by scalability and recovery efficacy. The study underlines the need for developing biometallurgy and exploring hybrid techniques to accomplish sustainable e-waste recycling. These findings provide significant insights for policymakers, researchers, and industry stakeholders seeking to improve the sustainability of resource recovery systems.