Sustainable Use of Plastic E-Waste with Added Value

Abstract

The suitability of using plastic from Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) for the manufacturing of new products, closing the loop of circular economy will be analyzed in this chapter. In this way, two business models were identified for market opportunities, gross margin-low-turnover and lowmargin high-turnover products. High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS) WEEE, Acrylonitrile–Butadiene–Styrene (ABS) WEEE, and an equitable blend of these materials(H50/A50 blend) were considered for the study. From the initial characterization of HIPS WEEE and ABS WEEE, it was found the presence of different kinds of mineral fillers and additives that give them UV resistance, flame retardance, and specific mechanical properties to each material, that favored certain characteristics depending on the final application. From the study, it is possible to claim that plastics from WEEE are suitable for the manufacturing of different kinds of products,since they can be easily processed, achieving a good overall performance, including UV and flame retardance. These results are very promising for the recycling of this complex plastic waste stream with profit, promoting sustainable methodologies and, consequently, closing the loop of circular economy.