Secondary copper resource recycling and reuse: A waste input-output model

In order to meet the massive demand of copper (annual consumption of 30-39 kg per person), Taiwan is faced with the decision: whether it makes sense to connect the arterial and venous industries by setting up a refinery that recovers and refines copper from the waste. This study aims to fill the research need to develop the methodology for evaluating the economic effects of incorporating the industrial chains for resource reuse and recycling. By constructing a secondary copper waste input-output (SeCuWIO) model that identifies the relationship between waste flows and the economic activities of the production (arterial) and waste treatment (venous) industry sectors, this study proposes a circular economy assessment tool from a macroeconomic perspective to assess the economic feasibility of closing the loop of a concerned material. The SeCuWIO model is used to estimate the changes in the unit production costs of various sectors after implementing a secondary copper resource recycling system. A scenario analysis shows that while most of the 52 industry sectors show variations within 1%, the pollution remediation sector exhibits a cost decrease of more than 2%. It is found that when a capacity with 60,000-ton electrolytic refinery and 6,000-ton leaching plant is installed, the total production cost in the economy to meet final demand for electrolytic copper amounts to 12,520 million NTD, which is higher than 12,510 million NTD of importing the same 53,280 tons at the present import price of 234,800 NTD/ton. Once the import price is above 234,980 NTD/ton, it will be beneficial from the resource and economic aspects to build such a domestic refinery plant that recovers and refines the copper from the waste. This study illustrates the diagnostic features of the SeCuWIO model and provides useful insights for waste and resource management regarding the industrial structure modification to promote circular economic structure. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.