@misc{LeeReb, author = {Lee, Roh Pin and Reb, Jochen}, title = {"Waste-to-Products" for the sustainability transformation of megacities : impacts of public knowledge \& perception on chemical recycling deployments in Singapore.}, series = {13th International Freiberg Conference on Circular Carbon Technologies}, journal = {13th International Freiberg Conference on Circular Carbon Technologies}, issn = {2363-8702}, pages = {1 -- 24}, abstract = {Megacities generate a significant amount of (unsorted) domestic waste. Rather than being landfilled or incinerated, chemical recycling (CR) represents a strategy whereby domestic waste could be used to substitute fossil resources as feedstock for chemical production. This coupling of the waste and chemical sectors could not only support megacities in sustainably managing their domestic waste, it furthermore represents an opportunity for a parallel achievement of multiple sustainability goals ranging from resource efficiency, circularity to decarbonization. However, despite its potential advantages, as an emerging technology which is still relatively unfamiliar to society, CR deployment faces significant challenges along both technological and human (i.e., social) dimensions. Path-dependent lock-ins along multiple dimensions lead to inertia which in turn hinders transformation efforts. Transforming towards sustainable domestic waste management via CR is thus not only a technical challenge requiring the integration of innovative CR technologies into existing value chains/infrastructures and/or the creation of new value chains; it furthermore requires a parallel transformation in the human dimension i.e., societal awareness, uptake and active participation. However, to the best of our knowledge, no research to date has assessed how factors in the human dimension could promote/hinder the success of CR deployment for domestic waste via a coupling of the waste and chemical sectors. To address the above gaps and complement extant literature on techno-economic evaluations of CR technologies, this study utilized an exploratory empirical approach to investigate factors in the human dimension which could impact the successful development and deployment of CR in the megacity context. A case analysis focusing on the city state Singapore - a megacity in Southeast Asia aiming to transit towards circularity and zero-waste by 2030 - illustrated opportunities for integration of CR in the waste management system to enable "Waste-to-Products" as well as identified barriers in the human dimension which could hinder its successful deployment in the country. Specifically, drawing on CR literature, opportunities for CR integration in the form of waste pyrolysis and waste gasification for recirculating different domestic waste streams back into the production cycle are illustrated. Subsequently, a representative online survey enabled first insights into factors in the human dimension which could (1) influence proper waste separation/recycling behaviors - a prerequisite for the successful implementation of waste pyrolysis, as well as (2) impact societal support for using domestic waste for chemical production via waste gasification rather than for energy production via waste incineration - the dominant waste management approach in Singapore. Implications of the empirical investigation for the development/deployment of CR projects in the form of waste pyrolysis and waste gasification, as well as policy implications for Singapore and transference opportunities for other megacities are also critically discussed. Additionally, implications for academia and directions for future research are also highlighted. In generating insights into factors in the human dimension which will have significant impacts on the success of CR deployment, this research not only extends extant CR literature which has so far predominantly focused on its techno-economic aspects, but also contributes to the field of sustainability transition - especially in the context of megacities. The opportunities and challenges for CR integration in a nation's waste system - illustrated on the example of Singapore - have relevance and could act as a blueprint for sustainable waste management and green chemistry especially in nations where (1) waste segregation and collection activities are still in their infancy, (2) waste incineration has yet to dominate the market and locked-in carbon-containing waste for "Waste-to-Energy", and (3) where chemical production exists and is (predominantly) dependent on imported fossil resources as chemical feedstock (i.e., petrochemistry), to support their development of sustainability cities and communities as indicated in the Sustainable Development Goal 11.}, language = {en} } @misc{LeeHuangYuchietal., author = {Lee, Roh Pin and Huang, Qiuliang and Yuchi, Wei and Zhang, Tingting and Bai, Jin and Gr{\"a}bner, Martin and Meyer, Bernd}, title = {Public knowledge, perception \& support for alternative transformation routes towards sustainable waste management : a case analysis of Taiyuan in Shanxi Province, China}, series = {13th International Freiberg Conference on Circular Carbon Technologies}, journal = {13th International Freiberg Conference on Circular Carbon Technologies}, issn = {2363-8702}, language = {en} } @misc{Lee, author = {Lee, Roh Pin}, title = {Transformation towards green chemistry : case study of waste gasification for methanol production in China}, series = {12th International Freiberg Conference on Circular Carbon Technologies}, journal = {12th International Freiberg Conference on Circular Carbon Technologies}, issn = {2363-8702}, pages = {1 -- 26}, language = {en} } @misc{LeeKruschinskiKuscheetal., author = {Lee, Roh Pin and Kruschinski, Anouk and Kusche, Franziska and Jones, Christopher and Kaklamanou, Daphne}, title = {Divergence in perception of gasification technologies in UK, Germany and China}, series = {13th International Freiberg Conference on Circular Carbon Technologies}, journal = {13th International Freiberg Conference on Circular Carbon Technologies}, issn = {2363-8702}, language = {en} }