A review of LED lamp recycling process from the 10 R strategy perspective

Abstract

Recycling LED lamp technology requires a change from the traditional bulk material-based recovery process. Unlike preceding lighting technology, LED lamps cannot be recycled to meet the regulatory minimum recycling rate of 80% due to multi-materials, including small quantity precious metals, which reduce the sorting efficiency. Therefore, it is crucial to understand how the challenges have been approached in the scientific literature in this context. The review article investigates the circular solutions to the challenges that the end of life LED lamp management is facing. This review applies PRISMA systematic literature review to locate the relevant studies and investigate whether the proposed processes can increase the recycling rate, using the circular economy strategy as a theoretical framework. Several recycling processes have been proposed in the academic literature. However, the techniques have not been evaluated against the circular economy strategies to identify current gaps and possible ways. This review attempts to fill this gap by assessing the current approaches against the 10 R strategies (refuse, rethink, reconsider, reuse, repair, refurbish, remanufacture, repurpose, recycle and recover). The study suggests that recycling is the dominant strategy, but the higher R strategies such as reuse, repair, and remanufacture have also been discussed as potential life extension strategies. The study concludes by proposing an integrated treatment approach that focuses on higher R's (reuse, repair, refurbish, remanufacture and repurpose) instead of focusing on lower R's (e.g., recycling).

Uncaptured mercury lost to the environment from waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) in scrap metal and municipal wastes

“…Collection targets are mass based, targeting heavy goods for collection ensures better compliance, although targets based on hazardous material or CRM content of the WEEE could be more effective (Chancerel et al, 2015;World Resources Forum Secretariat, 2021). Poor recovery rates for lamps demonstrate ongoing failures to prepare for CRM and lighting equipment recovery, similarly Rahman et al, (2021) report that end of use lamp management needs to adapt include reuse, repair and refurbishment, rather than recovery and recycling. Without intervention the trends of end-of-life lamp management in Ireland will continue even as LED technology takes over.…”

Determinants of proper disposal of single-use masks: knowledge, perception, behavior, and intervention measures

“…This should result in a paradigm shift in the perception of waste not as “garbage”, but as a “source of income” and in the awareness that waste is a direct consequence of human activity, with direct and positive changes in our behavior. Formal education and information campaigns that foster the 5Rs waste management culture in general (Reduce, Refuse, Reuse, Repurpose, and Recycle), or more complex “Rs” formulas such as the 10Rs ( Rahman et al, 2021 ) can empower people to become more responsible in managing the waste. Likewise, informal education supported by skill development and learning-by-doing approaches is the premise for creating environmental awareness that is one step towards building the 5Rs culture.…”

Lighting products as part of the circular economy and strategies that affect it. A literature overview.

“…In conclusion, a new study in 2021 shows that programming for the strategy R8 without taking into account other higher strategies will not have the expected results, since the lower circular economy strategies in modern products, such as LED bulbs, are ineffective. However, the implementation of both higher and lower R strategies presents challenges both at the technical and organizational levels [25][26][27].…”