Non-Critical Raw Materials in WEEE: role and circular opportunities of plastics

The rapid spread of electronic technologies, the shortening of device replacement cycles, and the constant emergence of new hi-tech markets have led to a significant growth in WEEE (Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment). WEEE, also known as e-waste, are stocks of strategic resources containing high-value materials, Critical Raw Materials (CRM), as well as large quantities of other metallic and non-metallic materials. Plastics are a particularly significant flow in terms of value and negative impacts on the environment and human health, as they make up an average of one-third of devices and contain toxic and persistent additives. While European legislation facilitates the recovery of these resources by imposing obligations on companies operating in the European single market, it is also essential to stimulate technological and process development to keep pace with the rapid and rapid evolution of the sector. This article aims to investigate the sector, examining its main regulatory, health and environmental aspects.