Verification (ETV) was used to draw the evaluation framework for recycling
pathway. Then, the final stage was the implementation of a decision-making tool for
the engineering team. In this article, we present the interlinking of tools to conduct
an evaluation during the design phase of recycling processes.
2 Methodological Framework
2.1 Segmentation of Recycling Processes
The recycling pathways are mostly based on common elementary technologies. The
elementary technology selection and order have a strong influence on the overall
performance of the recycling chain [15]. This assembly achieves the targets of
purity and quality specific to processed waste. The performances largely depend on
the pathway rather than technological innovations [16], hence, the assembly choices
of common sub-processes are one of the key points to design efficient recycling
pathways. The Fig. 2 shows EoL’s pathway alternatives for the same waste. The
technologies used and the streams vary with recycling process choices. We have
determined that recycling processes can be classified in three types [17]: shredding,
separation and transport. In addition to these three families of process unit, there is
the flow unit family.
2.2 Unit Process Database
To support the evaluation, we launched the construction of a database for recycling
processes. This database includes technical, environmental and economic datasets.
On the one hand, for each data a part of the values is fixed. They are invariant data
regardless the type of transformation performed by the unit process. This is mainly
the impact of manufacturing, its price without the options or the weight of the
(a)
(b)
(c)
Fig. 2 Presentation of different pathways for the same waste
Sustainability Performance Evaluation …
13
pathway. Then, the final stage was the implementation of a decision-making tool for
the engineering team. In this article, we present the interlinking of tools to conduct
an evaluation during the design phase of recycling processes.
2 Methodological Framework
2.1 Segmentation of Recycling Processes
The recycling pathways are mostly based on common elementary technologies. The
elementary technology selection and order have a strong influence on the overall
performance of the recycling chain [15]. This assembly achieves the targets of
purity and quality specific to processed waste. The performances largely depend on
the pathway rather than technological innovations [16], hence, the assembly choices
of common sub-processes are one of the key points to design efficient recycling
pathways. The Fig. 2 shows EoL’s pathway alternatives for the same waste. The
technologies used and the streams vary with recycling process choices. We have
determined that recycling processes can be classified in three types [17]: shredding,
separation and transport. In addition to these three families of process unit, there is
the flow unit family.
2.2 Unit Process Database
To support the evaluation, we launched the construction of a database for recycling
processes. This database includes technical, environmental and economic datasets.
On the one hand, for each data a part of the values is fixed. They are invariant data
regardless the type of transformation performed by the unit process. This is mainly
the impact of manufacturing, its price without the options or the weight of the
(a)
(b)
(c)
Fig. 2 Presentation of different pathways for the same waste
Sustainability Performance Evaluation …
13