Towards a circular economy for electrical products: A systematic literature review and research agenda for automated recycling

The growing need for sustainable waste management, especially for electronic waste (e-waste), has gained attention due to its environmental and economic implications. Despite the technological evolution of electronic products, their short lifespan and frequent replacement have led to a surge in discarded equipment. In particular, e-waste is rich in valuable materials, often exceeding natural ores. The challenge lies in the recycling of complex products, such as electrical or mechatronic systems, which consist of different materials. In addition, many of these discarded products are shipped to low-cost countries, leading to environmental concerns and health risks for workers. This paper explores the potential of automating the recycling process to address these challenges. This systematic literature review examines the emerging field of automated recycling for electronic products, with a focus on the transition to a circular economy. The results show that the literature on automated disassembly is highly focused on intelligent scheduling strategies, object recognition, sorting, tooling, disassembly, and robotic solutions, with particular emphasis on robotic cell design, robot kinematics, and human-robot collaboration. This review makes a significant contribution to the growing academic discourse on automated recycling and the circular economy, while laying the groundwork for future research and innovation by postulating a comprehensive research agenda.