• • Paper recyclables exhibit GHG emission factors ranging from -3,140 to 270 kgCO2-eq·t⁻¹; corrugated cardboard and writing paper show higher absolute values (up to -3,140 kgCO2-eq·t⁻¹) than packaging paper, indicating greater emission reduction potential per tonne, which is critical for prioritizing recycling streams.
• • Plastic recyclables show EFs from -3,096 to -566 kgCO2-eq·t⁻¹; EPS demonstrates the highest reduction potential (-3,096 kgCO2-eq·t⁻¹), followed by PET and PVC, while HDPE, LDPE, PP, and other plastics have lower absolute values, guiding material-specific recycling incentives.
• • Variability in EFs within the same recyclable category is driven by functional unit definition, system boundary, electricity emission factor, and calculation assumptions; selecting mismatched EFs can lead to accounting errors exceeding 100%, emphasizing the need for scenario-specific data.
• • Data gaps persist for LDPE, EPS, and other plastics, with limited studies and even WARM lacking EFs for these materials; this hinders accurate accounting in engineering applications, necessitating additional experimental or field measurements to refine EF ranges.