Abstract

The waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) recycling industry in China has been booming since the beginning of the millennium and plays a critical role in pollution control and resource efficiency. And the fast growth of the WEEE recycling industry reflects the development of China’s circular economy. This paper gives an outline of China’s circular economy with respect to law-making actions and promotional measures, including the implementation of clean production and the building-up of recycling and remanufacturing parks. In addition, it reviews the roadmap of China’s WEEE recycling industry as an example of circular economy development. Furthermore, the current status of China’s WEEE recycling industry is introduced and its social-economic impacts are discussed. Finally, trends and challenges surrounding WEEE recycling and the circular economy in China are presented.