Recycling Facility Research Articles

Textile waste management and recycling opportunities and challenges for Africa

Global fibre supply increased to 113 million tonnes in 2021, contributing to elevated energy and water consumption levels, agricultural pollution, and post-consumer textile waste. Introducing second-hand clothing as an alternative to mitigate textile waste is advantageous for providing affordable clothing. However, the disposal of substandard and unsold garments obstructs riverways and drainage systems, leading to flooding. Moreover, incineration produces heightened greenhouse gas emissions, exacerbating poverty and impeding development, particularly in Africa. Nevertheless, textile wastes present opportunities for establishing large-scale regeneration and recycling facilities, offering the potential for employment generation and skill development in Africa. This mini-review aims to underscore Africa’s potential and challenges in textile waste recycling. The findings underscore the importance of recognizing African textile waste, both as an environmental hazard and as a valuable resource for the production of new clothing. Additionally, they emphasize how efforts to add value to recovered textiles are gaining traction, particularly in East, South, and North Africa. However, no formal textile recycling facilities were identified in West and Central Africa. This mini-review is constrained by data limitations, encouraging future researchers to broaden its scope by examining individual countries and recycling companies.

Sustainable solid waste management challenges in hill cities of developing Countries: Insights from eastern Himalayan smart cities of Sikkim, India

Rapid urbanization and the growing tourism industry in the Himalayan region have raised significant concerns about the sustainable handling and management of solid waste in the area. This concern is particularly pronounced in the unique and vulnerable ecosystem of cities nestled in the eastern Indian Himalayas, where geography, ecology, and socio-economic factors converge to create distinctive challenges. This study undertakes a thorough investigation of solid waste management practices and challenges in two smart cities nestled in the eastern Himalayan region of India, specifically Gangtok and Namchi. The primary objective was to unveil the complex challenges confronting these cities by conducting an in-depth exploration of waste management practices. This comprehensive investigation was achieved through the collection of samples, conducting surveys within each ward of the cities, and performing physicochemical characterization analyses. The study also proposes a solution-oriented approach leveraging life cycle analysis. Despite the Himalayan backdrop, waste generation varies significantly, with Gangtok producing substantially more waste (50 tons per day (TPD)) compared to Namchi (4.6 TPD). Both cities excel in waste collection, but Gangtok leads in proactive treatment, with 22% (11 TPD) undergoing composting and recycling. However, shared challenges at riverside disposal sites, including overfilled dumpsites and leachate contamination, pose potential environmental hazards amid the Himalayan allure. Organic waste predominates at 40.9% and 40.01% in both cities, indicating composting potential. Plastic closely at 22.25% (Namchi) and 22.65% (Gangtok) was way above the global (12 %) and national (8.4 %) average respectively, emphasizing the urgency of plastic waste reduction strategy. The 16.95% cardboard in Gangtok highlights potential commerce-related waste. The study also highlights the importance of comprehensive policies for informal sector well-being. The lifecycle assessment of Namchi and Gangtok reveals significant methane emissions (99%) from waste anaerobic decomposition potentially due to poor source segregation. Implementing a futuristic waste strategy reduces emissions by 38% in Namchi and 40% in Gangtok, through biogas utilization and renewable energy adoption. The findings advocate for citizen engagement, improved collection, targeted campaigns, and circular economy principles. To ensure sustainability and resilience in waste management within mountain regions, tailored strategies such as material recycling facilities, community engagement initiatives, and landfill diversion mandates should integrate ecological, socioeconomic, and logistical considerations, fostering awareness and participation among communities.

Location of the Nearest E-Waste collection and Recycling Facility

The main purpose of online e-waste location system is to provide nearby e-waste locations to the user. The project integrates GPS mapping with real-time data to create a user-friendly. The project not only promotes environmental sustainability by diverting e-waste from landfills but also raises awareness about the importance recycling and environmental conservation. This abstract encapsulates a user-focused approach to solving the problem of e-waste disposal by combining geospatial technology and applications, thereby contributing to a cleaner environment and a more sustainable future.

HBM4EU E-waste study: Assessing persistent organic pollutants in blood, silicone wristbands, and settled dust among E-waste recycling workers in Europe

E-waste recycling is an increasingly important activity that contributes to reducing the burden of end-of-life electronic and electrical apparatus and allows for the EU's transition to a circular economy. This study investigated the exposure levels of selected persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in workers from e-waste recycling facilities across Europe.The concentrations of seven polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and eight polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) congeners were measured by GC-MS. Workers were categorized into five groups based on the type of e-waste handled and two control groups. Generalized linear models were used to assess the determinants of exposure levels among workers. POPs levels were also assessed in dust and silicone wristbands (SWB) and compared with serum.Four PCB congeners (CB 118, 138, 153, and 180) were frequently detected in serum regardless of worker's category. With the exception of CB 118, all tested PCBs were significantly higher in workers compared to the control group. Controls working in the same company as occupationally exposed (Within control group), also displayed higher levels of serum CB 180 than non-industrial controls with no known exposures to these chemicals (Outwith controls) (p < 0.05). BDE 209 was the most prevalent POP in settled dust (16 μg/g) and SWB (220 ng/WB). Spearman correlation revealed moderate to strong positive correlations between SWB and dust. Increased age and the number of years smoked cigarettes were key determinants for workers exposure. Estimated daily intake through dust ingestion revealed that ΣPCB was higher for both the 50th (0.03 ng/kg bw/day) and 95th (0.09 ng/kg bw/day) percentile exposure scenarios compared to values reported for the general population.This study is one of the first to address the occupational exposure to PCBs and PBDEs in Europe among e-waste workers through biomonitoring combined with analysis of settled dust and SWB. Our findings suggest that e-waste workers may face elevated PCB exposure and that appropriate exposure assessments are needed to establish effective mitigation strategies.

Improving coffee capsules recyclability - A combined assessment of circularity and environmental performance of a novel design

Coffee capsules have gained high levels of popularity in the last decades due to their convenience of use, flavour choices, and consistent extraction quality. As governmental bodies are promoting more circular solutions for packaging products, concerns have been raised regarding the environmental impacts of single-use coffee capsules, namely their end-of-life treatment and effective recyclability. This paper presents a novel design based on thin steel sheet material application for new packaging solutions that can support a more circular economy. To validate this new design, a framework was presented for a cross-assessment of Life Cycle Assessment with Circularity Analysis to compare the new tinplate capsule with conventional polypropylene and aluminium capsules. The novel design is more circular (0.97 in the material circularity indicator), in comparison with the polypropylene (0.1) and aluminium (0.80) conventional capsules, due to the ferromagnetic properties that allow for better effectiveness during sorting in urban packaging recycling facilities. As for the environmental assessment, the tinplate has higher environmental impacts than the aluminium and the polypropylene capsules (more 63 % and more 92 %, respectively) due to the high energy intensity processes required to produce this material. These results demonstrate that the novel tinplate capsule should complement the strong results in circularity with further improvements in its environmental performance, namely by the transition of the steel industry to the upcoming generation of decarbonized steel production.

Characterization and Environmental Evaluation of Recycled Aggregates from Construction and Demolition Waste in Belgrade City Area (Serbia).

Sustainable consumption of construction materials is an important segment of sustainable development goals towards reducing climate change. Since the consumption of natural aggregates raises environmental concerns, there is an increasing demand for use of recycled aggregates (RAs), as it enhances social and environmental benefits and creates a market opportunity. This paper presents the practice of using recycled construction and demolition waste (CDW) in the Belgrade city area (Serbia) as a resource. Two groups of CDW from Vinča landfill site near Belgrade are analyzed: raw material before, and RAs after, construction of a recycling facility on site. Comprehensive characterization is performed (including particle size distribution, density, water and organic pollutants content, various mechanical resistances, flakiness index, etc.) and compilation of samples analyzed and compared to show a holistic overview. The test outputs in both groups show acceptable values and meet required standards, indicating that recycled CDW generated in the Belgrade area can be used as a substitute to natural aggregates. In addition to that, the environmental and economic benefits from this use as a substitute are analyzed and discussed, proving the substantial income from sold Ras and the landscaping benefits, as well as ecological and economic benefits from energy savings.

Assessment of Heavy Metal Pollution and Health Risks in a Government-Intervened Electronic Waste Dismantling Area in South China

ABSTRACT Efficient control of heavy metal pollution necessitates a comprehensive understanding of pollutant sources. In this study, we conducted a thorough investigation of 11 metals in the soil of an electronic waste (e-waste) recycling facility in South China. The sources of these metals were determined through a combination of statistical analysis and the UNMIX model. Despite government intervention, our findings reveal significant pollution of nickel, copper, zinc, cadmium, and lead in the study area. Primary contributors to heavy metal contamination in the soil were identified as demolition activities, transport emissions, and atmospheric deposition. Utilizing a source risk assessment model, we observed that children face higher noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic risks compared to adults. Remarkably, the total hazard index of the study area was found to be considerably lower than that of other e-waste dismantling cities. Moreover, the total carcinogenic risk was noted to be one order of magnitude lower than both other e-waste dismantling cities and industrial and mining cities. While acknowledging the government’s commendable achievements in the standardized management of e-waste dismantling activities, our study underscores the need for targeted measures to further reduce pollution and safeguard the health of residents. These results emphasize the importance of ongoing efforts to enhance environmental protection strategies and underscore the significance of tailored interventions for sustainable pollution control in e-waste recycling facilities.

Simultaneous targeted and non-targeted analysis of plastic-related contaminants in e-waste impacted soil in Agbogbloshie, Ghana

An LC-MS based analytical method was developed and validated for the simultaneous targeted analysis and suspect screening of plastic-related contaminants in e-waste impacted soils. Satisfactory recoveries (97 ± 13 %) were achieved using ultrasound-assisted extraction for 14/15 of the targeted analytes (7 bisphenols and 8 plasticizers) in a range of agricultural and non-agricultural soils. The method was applied to 53 soil samples collected in May 2015 in the region of Agbogbloshie (Ghana) at e-waste facilities (incl. Dump, trade, and burn sites), neighboring non-agricultural (incl. upstream, downstream, and community) and agricultural fields, and at two control agricultural sites away from e-waste recycling facilities. Bisphenol A (BPA) and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) were the two dominant contaminants in e-waste soil (with concentrations up to 48.7 and 184 μg g−1, respectively), especially at the trade site, where e-waste was sorted and dismantled. The non-targeted workflow was successfully applied to identify additional plastic-related contaminants previously unreported in e-waste impacted soils, including bis(2-propylheptyl) phthalate, diisononyl phthalate, trioctyl trimellitate, 4-dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid, perfluorooctanesulfonic acid, perfluorobutanesulfonic acid, diphenyl phosphate, and triethylene glycol monobutyl ether. The agricultural soils surrounding the e-waste sites were also contaminated by plastic-related chemicals (especially DEHP), highlighting the impact of e-waste activities on the surrounding agricultural system.

A REVIEW OF BLOCKCHAIN APPLICATION IN LOGISTICS AND LAST-MILE DELIVERY

Due to the ongoing arrival of individuals, large urban areas are expanding while the daily life within them becomes increasingly demanding. These cities' authorities confronted many challenges in providing necessities for their citizens, such as water and food supply, energy, public transportation, road infrastructure, healthcare services, waste management, recycling, and storage facilities. Cities embrace novel technologies and innovative approaches to cope with these evolving circumstances. Cyber-physical systems, digitization, networking, cloud computing, the Internet of Things, and blockchains are valuable tools that enable the efficient functioning of smart cities. The subject matter of this article is very complex and covers several disciplines, such as management, transport, and information technologies. Few have mastered the necessary knowledge in all these areas. The authors wish that this multi-dimensional presentation of the current situation will be helpful to those who deal with the organization of life in cities, logistics, or the application of information technologies in business organizations, but also ordinary citizens who are not yet familiar with these problems. The article should allow the reader to see the complexity of last-mile delivery and encourage it to use its potential to get involved in solving this problem.

Optimal plastic recycling system and technology development could accelerate decarbonization: A case study from Japan

This study provided a geographic and technical matching approach supporting low-carbon style recycling systems, demonstrated using polyvinyl chloride waste (PVCW) generated in 2018 in Mie Prefecture, Japan. From a carbon dioxide (CO2) emission basis, mechanical/material recycling (MR) and energy recovery facilities were all allocated full capacity; however, parts of chemical recycling facilities were excluded in the optimal solutions. From the spatial distribution of the allocated result, we confirmed a trend that to achieve the minimum total emissions, the matchings from pretreatment to recycling facilities were done based on a nearby priority rule. From an emission reduction basis, MR accounted for the major proportion of total reductions which was similar to that accessed from an emission basis. Thus, the promotion of MR should be prioritized at the current technical level when optimizing emissions of the whole lifecycle. The number of facilities allocated were substantially reduced; meanwhile, the averaged emission reductions per ton of PVCW disposed were increased from the current level (2.93) to the near-future level (4.99 t-CO2 t−1). Thus, we concluded that this optimization under a higher technical level was effective to make the current recycling system with more emission reductions (low-carbon environmental effect) and require fewer disposal facilities (cost-saving economic effect). Meanwhile, certain long-distance routes found in solutions implied that technical parameters were more important than geolocation parameters to achieve maximum emission reductions.

Awareness, Safety Practices and Associated Factors Among E-Waste Recycling Workers in Bangladesh.

Awareness of electronic waste (e-waste) improves safety practices among workers, thereby reducing health risks associated with pollutants. Investigating the awareness and safe practices among these workers could help identify areas for improvement, a task not yet undertaken in Bangladesh. Consequently, this study aimed to examine the awareness, safety measures, and associated factors among e-waste workers in the country. In this cross-sectional study, 236 workers from an e-waste recycling facility located near Dhaka were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire from August to September 2022. Eight questions captured information on socio-demographics and work factors, 24 questions on e-waste awareness, and 11 questions on safety practices. Total awareness and safety scores were calculated and categorized as "good" and "poor" based on a cut-off point of 80% of the total score. Bivariate and regression analyses were done to determine associated factors. Only 25% of workers had good e-waste awareness; major knowledge gaps were regarding minimization, health hazards, and environmental impact. Good awareness was significantly associated with female gender, higher education, income, smoking, experience ⩾5 years, and training. About 58% followed good safety practices, but the use of boots and helmets was inadequate. Good safety practices were significantly associated with higher education, income, smoking, experience, training, and overtime work. On multivariable analysis, those with higher education had 12 times (95% CI 4.83-32.81) and 6 times (95% CI 2.94-12.81) higher odds of good awareness and practices, respectively. Trained workers had 3.6 times (95% CI 1.67-7.52) higher odds of good practices. There was a significant correlation between awareness and practices (r = .70, P < .001). The study found poor awareness and inadequate safety practices related to e-waste among the workers. Urgent interventions like training, the use of protective gear, and stringent policies are warranted to increase awareness and safety behaviors.

Remote Sensing and GIS Techniques for Selecting a Site of a Plastic Recycling Facility to Enhance Bitumen

Remote Sensing and GIS Techniques for Selecting a Site of a Plastic Recycling Facility to Enhance Bitumen

Assessing Neurobehavioral Alterations Among E-waste Recycling Workers in Hong Kong

BackgroundE-waste workers in Hong Kong are handling an unprecedented amount of e-waste, which contains various neurotoxic chemicals. However, no study has been conducted to evaluate the neurological health status of e-waste workers in Hong Kong. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of neurobehavioral alterations and to identify the vulnerable groups among Hong Kong e-waste workers. MethodsWe recruited 109 Hong Kong e-waste workers from June 2021 to September 2022. Participants completed standard questionnaires and wore a GENEActiv accelerometer for seven days. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Questionnaire 16/18 (Q16/18) were used to assess subjective neurobehavioral alterations. The GENEActiv data generated objective sleep and circadian rhythm variables. Workers were grouped based on job designation and entity type according to the presumed hazardous level. Unconditional logistic regression models measured the associations of occupational characteristics with neurobehavioral alterations after adjusting for confounders. ResultsWhile dismantlers/repairers and the workers in entities not funded by the government were more likely to suffer from neurotoxic symptoms in Q18 (adjusted odds ratio: 3.18 [1.18–9.39] and 2.77 [1.10–7.46], respectively), the workers from self-sustained recycling facilities also have poor performances in circadian rhythm. Results also showed that the dismantlers/repairers working in entities not funded by the government had the highest risk of neurotoxic symptoms compared to the lowest-risk group (i.e., workers in government-funded companies with other job designations). ConclusionThis timely and valuable study emphasizes the importance of improving the working conditions for high-risk e-waste workers, especially the dismantlers or repairers working in facilities not funded by the government.

Optimalisasi Pelayanan TPS3R di Kelurahan Panjunan Menggunakan Metode Contingent Valuation Method

Recycling Facility Hikmah was built to provide solid waste management in the Panjunan Sub-district, Astanaanyar District, Bandung City. Recycling Facility Hikmah has the ability to operate continuously, but is still not running optimally due to cost constraints. This research was conducted to identify the potential for improving Recycling Facility management based on residents' willingness to participate in improving waste services through increasing retribution. The Contingent Valuation Method (CVM) is used as a survey technique using direct questionnaires and bidding game techniques, while statistical analysis will be carried out to determine the relationship between the observed variables. Based on the research results, the Willingness to Pay (WTP) value was obtained for 118 people from the 145 respondents interviewed. The Estimated WTP Value (EWTP) is IDR 6,822 and the Total WTP (TWTP) is IDR 4,848,866/month. Based on multiple linear regression analysis, the WTP value for Panjunan Village is influenced by the type of work and total income.

Environmental Impact Assessment of Plastic Waste Management Scenarios in the Canadian Context

Given the scale of plastic generation, its persistent presence in the environment, and the urgent need to transition to a net-zero emissions paradigm, managing plastic waste has gained increasing attention globally. Developing an effective strategy for plastic waste management requires a comprehensive assessment of the potential benefits offered by different solutions, particularly with respect to their environmental impact. This study employs the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology to evaluate the environmental impact of two alternative scenarios to the As-Is scenario for managing plastic waste in the province of British Columbia in Canada. The LCA results suggest that the Zero Plastic Waste scenario, which heavily relies on chemical recycling, may not inherently result in a reduced environmental footprint across all impact categories. This is notable when the focus is solely on end-of-life treatment processes, without considering the produced products and energy. The Intermediate scenario reduces the amount of plastic waste sent to landfills by directing more end-of-life plastic to mechanical recycling facilities. This scenario provides immediate benefits for resource conservation, with a minimal increase in the environmental burden resulting from treatment processes. Nonetheless, achieving a net-zero transition requires combining traditional and emerging recycling technologies. The current study could offer some guidance to policymakers on strategies for fostering more sustainable management of plastic waste.

Opportunities and challenges of recycling and reusing lithium-ion batteries for sustainable mobility

The growth of lithium-ion battery (LIBs) applications in electric vehicles and consumer electronics are rapidly increasing, further supplemented by the global energy sector’s transition into more sustainable energy production and consumption. This not only boosts resources demand, but also generating huge amounts of spent batteries that must be properly managed. Recycling becomes a necessity, not only to support circular economy, but also to recover rare metals and reduce the hazardous pollution of LIBs components. There are many benefits for LIBs recycling, especially in environmental protection, energy transition, and economic benefits. Yet, a successful venture into LIBs recycling depends on a few factors: the recycling technology, the resources (spent LIBs), the location of the facilities for disposal and recycling, the local and regional regulatory framework, as well as the environmental impact. Therefore, it is necessary to identify and assess the systemic elements that exist within the recovery modes and phases of LIBs in a local context. This will enable a more informed decision to be made for further development of any LIBs recycling project.

Recycling End-of-Life Photovoltaic Modules in Malaysia: Challenges and Potential Solutions

As evidenced from recent policies encouraging renewable energy (RE) penetration in Malaysia, it is envisioned that solar photovoltaic (PV) in the country will receive a significant boost in growth as well. The proliferation of solar PV systems is viewed as a great leap in assisting the decarbonization of our energy generation systems, yet concerns have been raised on the sustainable management of the emerging waste PV modules. Currently, the common treatment methods for the majority of end-of-life (EoL) PV modules in many countries including Malaysia, are landfill disposal or bulk recycling in pre-existing recycling facilities. Even though these methods are simpler in operation due to minimal efforts required to sustainably manage these EoL modules, there is a high probability for environmental issues to occur including leakage of toxic materials and loss of valuable resources. As a result, high-value closed-loop recycling has been proposed to remediate these detrimental effects, but its execution could introduce challenges in Malaysia which this paper attempts to examine upon. Consequently, recommendations to alleviate the challenges faced are proposed, along with potential trade-offs that may arise from the solutions suggested. In essence, research and development (R&D), support from the authorities, as well as cooperation between governmental and private organisations, are necessary in establishing a sustainable and holistic framework for managing PV waste in Malaysia.

Ghana's recently introduced e-waste regulatory policy: A hope for a better e-waste sector?

Electronic waste (e-waste), often dominated by the informal sector, has had adverse effects on recipient developing countries' economies, health and physical environment. Ghana, over the years, has had support from international organisations to manage its e-waste crisis. Until 2016, there was no e-waste specific policy to guide the management of the sector. In 2016, Ghana passed a regulatory policy - Act 917 - to specifically deal with e-waste, supported by other frameworks such as a regulatory instrument (L.I. 2250), a technical guideline for environmentally sound e-waste management and an e-waste-specific policy, which is currently being developed. However, there is dearth of research on how effectively a regulatory policy such as Act 917 can help address an informally dominated sector whose crude recycling approaches have had great environmental and health impacts. Adapting the analytical framework and intervention theory, key stakeholders within the e-waste sector were interviewed on: the effectiveness of the Act, the challenges confronting them and their involvement in the design and implementation processes. The findings showed that stakeholders were represented at various stages of the process. Informal recyclers were provided with training programmes, health centres and an incentive scheme to minimise burning of electrical and electronic equipment. There however exist many challenges to the sound management of the sector, particularly, the lack of end-to-end recycling facilities, registering and formalising the sector and sequencing of the e-waste policy and regulatory framework. The research concludes by recommending areas for future studies.

Are Australian Consumers Ready to Wear Recycled Clothing to Practice Sustainable Consumption?

This paper presents a comprehensive review of the extant literature to explore if Australian consumers are ready to reuse clothing as a pathway to sustainability. In this study, sustainability aspects such as collaborative consumption, apparel disposal methods, acquisition of used clothing, consumer concerns and attitudes towards reuse, and sellers’ readiness to offer sustainable solutions to clothing consumption have been explored in the context of the Australian market. The most important research contribution of this paper is the answer to whether Australia is ready to adopt the reuse of clothing through remaking and repurposing as a sustainable approach for the consumption of clothing at its end-of-life (EOL). Facilitators and challenges for the secondhand clothing sector have also been discussed. The findings highlight challenges including consumer awareness, an unwillingness to use secondhand clothing, limited recycling facilities, the availability of brand-new cheaper clothing, and the limited range of secondhand clothing. The facilitators include government policies towards recycling, fashion brands’ initiatives, and high-quality rejected clothing with the potential for reuse. It has been established that creating consumer awareness of secondhand clothing is essential to penetrate the market. Furthermore, there are ample opportunities to research consumers and the clothing reuse and recycling sector in Australia.

Barriers and facilitators to sustainable operating theatres: a systematic review using the Theoretical Domains Framework.

The health sector contributes significantly to the climate crisis. Operating theatres in particular are a major contributor of greenhouse gas emissions and waste, and while there are several evidence-based guidelines to reduce this impact, these are often not followed. We systematically reviewed the literature to identify barriers and facilitators of sustainable behaviour in operating theatres, categorising these using the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF). Medline, Embase, PsychInfo, and Global Health databases were searched for articles published between January 2000 - June 2023, using the concepts: barriers and facilitators, sustainability, and surgery. Two reviewers screened abstracts from identified studies, evaluated quality, and extracted data. Identified determinants were mapped to TDF domains and further themes as required. The results were reported in line with PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses) and AMSTAR (A MeaSurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews) guidelines. Twenty-one studies were selected for analysis and assessment (seventeen surveys and four interview studies) comprising 8286 participants, including surgeons, nurses and anaesthetists. Eighteen themes across ten TDF domains were identified. The most common barriers to adoption of green behaviours in operating theatres were in domains of: 'knowledge' (N=18) e.g. knowledge of sustainable practices; 'environmental context and resources' (N=16) e.g.'personnel shortage and workload and inadequate recycling facilities; 'social influences' (N=9) e.g. lack of leadership/organisational mandate or support; 'beliefs about consequences' (N=9) e.g. concerns regarding safety. Intention was the most common facilitator, with eleven studies citing it. Despite intentions to adopt sustainable practices in operating theatres, this review identified several barriers to doing so. Interventions should focus on mitigating these, especially by improving staff's knowledge of sustainability practices and working within the environmental context and time pressures. Furthermore, institutional change programmes and policies are needed to prioritise sustainability at the Hospital and Trust level. Additional qualitative work should also be conducted using behavioural frameworks, to more comprehensively investigate barriers and determinants to decarbonise operating theatres.