Development of a Recycling Technology Selection Framework for Sustainable Metal Recycling

Abstract

The growing global demand for metals due to industrialisation, infrastructure development, and technological progress has led to serious challenges such as resource depletion, high energy use, and environmental impacts. Conventional metal recycling systems are widely used to reduce dependence on primary metal resources. However, they mainly focus on end-of-life recovery and rely on energy-intensive processes. These systems also suffer from material losses, downcycling, and poor long-term value retention, which limit their overall sustainability. This study reviews and analyses conventional metal recycling systems and proposes an alternative recovery framework that prioritises value retention throughout the product life cycle. A qualitative, literature-based approach was used to examine previous studies on metal recycling technologies, circular economy principles, and value retention strategies. Key weaknesses of recycling-dominant systems were identified through literature synthesis and comparative analysis. Based on these findings, a Recycling Technology Selection Framework (RTSF) was developed by integrating design-stage considerations, performance maintenance during use, condition-based assessment at end-of-use, and a hierarchical selection of recovery options. The RTSF prioritises reuse, refurbishment, and remanufacturing before recycling, while treating disposal and material leakage as system failures. The comparative evaluation suggests that the RTSF can improve value retention, enhance energy efficiency, and better align metal recovery systems with circular economy principles, contributing to a more sustainable and resource-efficient metal recovery system. Although conceptual in nature, the RTSF provides a structured decision-support foundation for manufacturing industries. However, the framework remains conceptual and has not yet been validated through industrial case studies or quantitative life-cycle assessment. Future research should validate the framework through empirical industrial applications and quantitative evaluation to confirm its practical applicability.