E-plastics in a Circular Economy: A Comprehensive Regulatory Review

Despite the economic and environmental significance of recovering plastics from e-waste, the presence of contaminants (in the form of chemical substances) strongly limits the recycling of this waste stream. Some chemical substances are controlled by international or European guidelines and policies, which are continuously updated to control new substances or apply different threshold limits in newly marketed electronic equipment. Nonetheless, recent studies have shown that e-plastics still contain several problematic compounds, which are not yet restricted. Additionally, the continuously increasing number of regulations on products and waste recycling, and the ambiguous regulations on additives, created a challenging situation for e-plastics recycling. This paper is a literature review of commercial additives in e-plastics, which presents an inventory of 145 hazardous and high-concern additives, with cross-reference to their types, polymer of application and the relevant regulations and policies. The study also offers a comprehensive overview of the existing measures, legislations and activities related to e-plastics recycling, with the aim of understanding future trends, gaps, and limitations of the European regulatory framework. Additionally, the review highlighted additives which can be new candidates for restriction, by analyzing their hazardous effects. The outcomes confirm that phthalate plasticizers, and pigments are well regulated, yet, most additives and mainly organic flame retardants are still candidates for future restrictions or are not yet considered. In conclusion, this review could facilitate proactive actions of the European stakeholders throughout the whole e-plastic circular value chain.