Fostering the waste management with environmental-resource interacting attribute

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Materials Science
• Sustainability Studies

Background:

• Effective waste management is crucial for sustainability, but challenges remain in resource recovery and minimizing environmental harm.
• Existing methods struggle to fully quantify the complexities of waste processing and resource utilization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and apply the environmental-resource interacting attribute framework for quantifying waste management challenges.
• To analyze recyclability and environmental impacts across diverse waste categories.
• To guide the selection of waste treatment pathways for improved resource recovery.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of twelve distinct waste categories using the environmental-resource interacting attribute framework.
• Quantification of recyclability and environmental impact using information entropy (bit⁻¹) and degree (°).
• Classification of waste based on attribute values to prioritize high-recovery potential materials.

Main Results:

• Significant variability in recyclability and environmental impact was observed across the twelve waste categories.
• Copper slag showed a wide recyclability range (25.25–285.46 bit⁻¹), with downcycling pathways yielding the highest values (up to 285.46 bit⁻¹).
• Resource recovery potential varied significantly, reaching up to 77.45°, highlighting attribute bias in waste processing.

Conclusions:

• The environmental-resource interacting attribute framework provides valuable insights into waste recyclability and environmental burdens.
• The framework aids in prioritizing waste materials with high recovery potential, preventing irreversible resource losses.
• This approach offers an alternative tool for advancing waste management towards a circular economy and reducing carbon emissions.