Global warming potential and economic performance of gasification-based chemical recycling and incineration pathways for residual municipal solid waste treatment in Germany.

Chemical recycling could facilitate the transition from a linear to a circular carbon economy, where carbon-containing waste is channeled back into the production cycle as a chemical feedstock instead of being incinerated or landfilled. However, the predominant focus on technological aspects of chemical recycling for plastic waste narrows evaluations of its potential in contributing to such a transition. Moreover, it leads to significant controversy about its role in the waste hierarchy as a possible competitor to mechanical recycling. To address these gaps in the literature, this study assesses ecological and economic impacts associated with chemical recycling of residual municipal solid waste in Germany. Combining approaches of life cycle assessment and techno-economic analysis, chemical recycling and conventional incineration-based treatment pathways are comparatively evaluated in terms of global warming potential and economic performance (i.e. fixed capital investment, net present value, dynamic payback period, and levelized cost of carbon abatement). Results indicate that compared to incineration-based conventional pathways, chemical recycling can contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in low-emission energy systems. However, the economic performance of chemical recycling is highly dependent on its scale of operation. Additionally, a price premium for recycling products as well as economic instruments for penalizing CO2 emissions are identified to play important roles in the economic performance of chemical recycling.

Perception of chemical recycling and its role in the transition towards a circular carbon economy: A case study in Germany.

Chemical recycling (CR) is an emerging theme in waste management which has the potential to contribute to a low carbon, resource efficient and sustainable economy. In enabling the use of carbonaceous waste as secondary carbon feedstock to replace fossil resources for the production of organic chemicals, it could support efforts to transit carbon intensive industries from the linear to a circular carbon economy. This study investigated stakeholders' perception of CR as a multifaceted construct. Objective is to complement technological-economical-ecological evaluations of CR innovations, and inform socio-political discussions about its role in the transformation of carbon intensive and dependent industries. An exploratory case study approach consisting of a qualitative survey and a semi-structured workshop discussion is utilized to assess the perception of CR and its perceived role in the transformation of Germany's chemical and waste management industries. Findings enabled insights into how CR is understood, what are seen as desirable inputs and outputs, perceived advantages compared to conventional recycling and thermal treatment as well as obstacles to its implementation. Additionally, the outcomes revealed policy and regulatory needs which will have to be addressed in order to successfully implement CR as a complementary building block of sustainable waste management. Study findings thus provide valuable information and insights to support managerial decision-making as well as the development and prioritization of measures by policymakers to regulate the implementation of CR technologies.