Characteristics and life cycle carbon emission reduction potential of waste recycling after implementing new waste classification policy in China: From case study to national perspective

Abstract

Under the background of resource shortage and global warming, it is of great significance to explore the status, influencing factors and carbon emission reduction effect of waste recycling in China after the implementation of new waste classification policy for guiding waste classification and carbon emission accounting. In this research, the temporal and spatial changes and influencing factors of waste recycling were studied from subdistrict level, life-cycle carbon emission reduction was predicted and policy suggestions for waste recycling were proposed. The results showed that after the implementation of new waste classification policy, the amount of recycled waste and the proportion of low-value recycled waste increased by 420.93 t and 2.29 % per month on average, respectively. The district center has the largest amount of recycled waste. Income was the main factors affecting waste recycling, and online shopping and takeout could become important sources of recyclable waste. Accounting cradle-to-grave life cycle carbon footprint, waste plastics takes up the most contribution, accounting for 39.11 %, and nearly 391.68 Mt CO2eq would be reduced by waste recycling in China by 2030. Therefore, in the process of waste classification, refining waste classification to increase the amount of low-value recyclables, and rationally deploying collection and transportation vehicles to ensure efficient waste recycling are of great significance to achieve the goal of “carbon peaking and carbon neutrality”.