The paper shows the results of an empirical study on the optimization of polymer waste supply chains based on the circular economy in Ukraine. The research shows that the main links in the activity should be harmonized for quality and quick optimization of polymer waste supply chains, including the processes of collecting, sorting, treatment, processing, and recycling of resources for maintaining the quality by total cost reduction. The research argues that the circular economy that stipulates the easy processing, recycling, disassembling, and restoring of products replaced the traditional linear model “take, produce, and throw out” that has dominated the economy by now. The study shows that the transformation of supply chains in production ecosystems forms competitive advantages at the enterprises that allow them to be more productive through efficient use of resources.

An experimental analysis of the effect of gamma and X-ray irradiation with dose rate 0.25-6mSv/h on low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and PMMA samples is presented. The focus of attention is on their DC conductivity as a dielectric of a capacitor. This system is based on the discharge of a capacitor by radioactive radiation through ionization of the dielectric consists of an inner electrode of the capacitor. The experimental setup contains a special electronic circuit in which polymer samples are placed as dielectric of parallel-plate capacitor which is connected to electrodes and a high voltage power supply is in series with other components of the circuit. It is understood that the resistance of polymers varies with the applied voltage and absorbed gamma ray dose from 137Cs with 0.661 MeV energy. The influences of this parameter on LDPE and PMMA electrical properties as a result of polarization of dielectric are also presented. The experimental results show elevation of LDPE and PMMA electric conduction properties as irradiation dose rate increases. Indications of predominance of charge accumulation are also observed.