Track: Supply Chain Management

Abstract

Plastic solid waste (PSW) recycling can lead to sustainable resource utilization and reverse logistics is a concept that can enable the recovery of this waste type in the supply-chain. In developing economies, informal waste recovery is predominant and in need of recycling and reverse logistics systems to enable sustainable recoveries. The paper analyses studies that have focused on recycling and reverse logistics in order to determine the significance of this relationship to sustainable resource utilization and waste management. The study has identified a number of merits in implementing reverse logistics systems and these can benefit the developing economies. Nevertheless, most of the studies analyzed have been conducted in developed economies were plastic waste recycling and reverse logistics are in existence. The study identified no studies on reverse logistics and plastic recycling in Africa and therefore recommended that more research is needed on this topic to enable plastic manufacturing companies and waste managers make sustainable decisions and systems.