With the rapid advancement of electronic information technology and accelerated replacement of electronic products, the generation of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) has continued to increase, becoming a major environmental and resource challenge worldwide. Efficient copper recovery from waste printed circuit boards (WPCBs), a representative component of WEEE with high metal content, is particularly essential. This study focused on resource recovery of copper from WPCBs and systematically reviewed the main technological pathways currently applied, including physical-mechanical separation, thermal treatment, hydrometallurgical processing, and supercritical fluid extraction. Their performance was comparatively analyzed in terms of recovery efficiency, environmental impact, economic feasibility, and technical maturity. Results indicated that each technology exhibited distinct advantages in copper recovery, while several emerging technologies demonstrated strong potential to enhance recovery efficiency, reduce energy consumption, and mitigate secondary pollution. Based on these findings, the study proposed strategies to advance the high-value recycling of WPCBs, such as implementing multi-dimensional technology assessments, strengthening policy and financial support, establishing regional demonstration projects, developing localized green processes, and optimizing the recycling infrastructure. The novelty of this work lay in comparative analysis of multiple treatment technologies, comprehensive evaluation of their applicability to copper recovery, and formulation of systematic, context-specific countermeasures for China's WPCB recycling sector. These findings provided theoretical insights and technical guidance for promoting the sustainable and high-value utilization of WPCBs.