Methodological approach to assessing the efficiency of industrial process waste recycling

Abstract

Despite the growing transition toward a circular economy, many industrial enterprises still regard process waste as an unavoidable production loss rather than a valuable secondary resource. This issue creates a methodological gap in evaluating the economic feasibility and practical efficiency of waste recycling technologies. The purpose of the study is to develop a methodological framework for assessing the efficiency of converting industrial process waste into secondary material resources within enterprise resource conservation systems. The research methodology integrates Russian and international approaches to resource efficiency management, including strategic structuring, system and SWOT analysis, process-oriented management, expert surveys, and structural-functional analysis. The empirical basis of the study includes data collected from industrial enterprises of the Nizhny Novgorod region belonging to the GAZ Group. As a result, the authors developed an information model for estimating the payback period and profitability of implementing waste recycling technologies, taking into account the utilization rate of secondary resources and fluctuations in production costs. The model demonstrated strong practical applicability: the resource utilization coefficient reached 80–90%, while the projected payback period for different material groups ranged from 12.1 to 32.6 months. The proposed methodological approach may improve the accuracy of managerial decision-making, reduce material losses, and enhance resource efficiency in line with the principles of the green economy and sustainable industrial development.

To cite: Mizikovsky I.E., Igonina E.S., Sofyin A.A. Methodological approach to assessing the efficiency of industrial process waste recycling. Research in Economic and Financial Problems. 2026;2:4. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.31279/2782-6414-2026-2-4