Screening of the Regulations and Legislations that Control the Chemical Content of Plastics Through Their Lifecycle

The mechanical recycling of plastic waste plays a crucial role in advancing the circular economy, ensuring that valuable resources within the waste stream are preserved for extended periods. However, the sustainable, economic, and environmentally responsible management of plastic waste remains a significant challenge, particularly when plastics are sourced from contaminated streams, such as those originating from electronic waste (e-plastics). These materials often contain a wide range of chemical substances, some of which can pose considerable environmental and health risks. Therefore, assessing the degree of contamination in plastic waste is essential to ensure a safe and sustainable life cycle for plastics. Regulatory frameworks aim to address this issue by establishing guidelines and limitations on the use of hazardous chemicals, as well as providing standards for the proper treatment of contaminated waste streams. This paper offers a comprehensive review of the regulations and legislation governing the chemical content of plastics throughout their life cycle—spanning from production to waste disposal and recycling. The objective is to deepen the understanding of the challenges and limitations associated with the recycling of e-plastics and to highlight the importance of these regulatory measures in achieving sustainable plastic waste management.