CIRCULAR ECONOMY POTENTIAL IN WASTE REUSE AND PREPARATION FOR REUSE (PFR): INSIGHTS FROM SOCIAL MEDIA DATA MINING

Abstract

The transition from a linear to a circular economy, which promotes environmental sustainability and human health, necessitates effective waste management strategies and the recognition of waste as a valuable resource. This study focuses on addressing the challenges of solid waste mismanagement in Lebanon, as exemplified by the 2015 waste crisis, and explores the potential of reuse as a key waste prevention strategy within a circular economy framework. The specific objectives of this study are: (i) To identify the most accepted item to be reused and the current reuse directives on Lebanese social media platforms, (ii) To assess whether reuse and recycling through online second-hand shops result in a net environmental benefit instead of the disposal of used items or the purchasing of new ones. AI methodologies, including information retrieval and machine learning (ML), are used in this research. More than 1000 images from Lebanese Instagram thrift shop accounts were collected and used to train a classifier through transfer learning models. The classifier was trained to assign waste categories (textile, clothing & shoes, furniture & home appliances, toys, books & movies, electronics, cosmetics & medicine) to each image. Three scenarios were covered to assess the environmental impacts: the reference scenario (R1), which involves direct disposal of the item; the reuse scenario (R2), where the item is sold and reused; and the recycling scenario (R3), which focuses on recycling the item for other purposes. To quantify the environmental impacts of reuse, recycling, and disposal, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and consumer behavior studies were analyzed. The findings indicate that "textiles, clothing, and shoes" is the most reused waste category. Online thrift and reuse shops offer affordable prices, making sustainable clothing accessible to a wider audience and serving as a viable alternative to the environmental burdens associated with new garment production. Most items available for reuse were found to be in good to excellent condition, suggesting a nearly one-to-one replacement ratio where second-hand items effectively substitute for new ones. By extending the lifespan of used items, online reuse shops contribute to the principles of the circular economy, reducing the demand for new production and conserving valuable resources. Reuse consistently outperforms recycling as the preferable scenario across different waste categories, in alignment with the waste hierarchy principles. While certain waste categories, such as "Furniture and Home Appliances," may exhibit lower levels of reuse on Instagram, their potential for avoiding substantial environmental impacts is noteworthy. A decision tree for the used textile items was developed as a decision-aided system for policymakers and consumers to ensure organized reuse management.Sustainable management practices for reuse, both for sellers and consumers, are crucial to mitigate the negative environmental consequences of textile waste, including greenhouse gas emissions, land and water pollution, and resource depletion. This research demonstrates the potential of AI methodologies, such as information retrieval from social media networks, in waste management and the transition towards a circular economy. Valuable insights can be obtained from social media platforms, aiding in the identification of popular items for reuse and the formulation of effective reuse directives. Overall, this study emphasizes the significance of sustainable reuse practices and their role in waste management and the circular economy.