Queen's University Belfast, alongside academic partners, University of Malaya and Universiti Teknologi Petronas, have been awarded £2.9 million from the Ayrton Challenge Programme to focus on research to help to recover valuable critical metals, which are essential for developing clean energy technologies and boosting Malaysia’s circular economy. The project is one of thirteen UK research projects that will address urgent global energy and climate challenges. 

The iRECYCLE-Malaysia project aims to revolutionise e-waste management in Malaysia through the development of sustainable and profitable technologies for recycling plastic-contaminated printed circuit boards. This interdisciplinary research program brings together expertise from institutions in Malaysia and the UK to address the pressing challenge of e-waste in Malaysia, where generation is projected to reach 1.4 million tonnes annually by 2030. Currently, only 25% of Malaysia's e-waste is formally recycled, with 75% handled by the informal sector using outdated, unsafe practices that pose significant environmental and health risks. This situation urgently calls for innovative solutions to transform e-waste management, improve safety, and generate high-quality employment. The project aligns with Malaysia's 12th Plan (2021-2025), which emphasises transitioning to a circular economy and implementing Extended Producer Responsibility for e-waste. 

 The project will deliver step changes in e-waste management by advancing biotechnology applications, developing innovative metal recovery methods, and demonstrating sustainable approaches to recycling complex plastic mixtures. These advancements will position Malaysia at the forefront of e-waste management innovation. iRECYCLE-Malaysia addresses the Ayrton Fund challenge area of "Smart delivery" with a focus on critical minerals. The project will enhance resource security through domestic recovery of critical metals, reducing dependence on imports. 

iRECYCLE-Malaysia

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iRECYCLE-Malaysia

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