Sustainable Treatment and Management of E-Plastic Waste

Plastic waste originating from electronic and electrical devices, commonly known as e-plastic, has experienced a notable increase in recent years due to the rapid expansion of the electronic industry. E-plastics constitute roughly 20% of discarded electrical and electronic equipment, constituting a significant and rapidly expanding waste category. Despite the availability of various recycling technologies for e-plastics, their complex composition, including heavy metals, plasticizers, and harmful additives, complicates the recycling process, resulting in high costs and intricate sorting procedures. Consequently, informal recycling and disposal practices, particularly prevalent in developing nations, raise serious environmental and health concerns. This chapter delves into advancements in e-waste treatment and management through mechanical, thermal, and chemical processes, exploring their applications in construction and fuel industries. Various treatment methods for recovering metals from e-waste are explored. Additionally, it briefly discusses the environmental effects associated with the end-of-life scenarios of e-plastic waste, employing a life-cycle assessment approach.