In view of the key function of the Rotary Hearth Furnace (RHF) process in the resource utilization of iron and zinc bearing dust sludge,in this paper,based on production data and theoretical analysis,the comprehensive utilization pathways for metallized pellets and undersize fines from RHF are systematically elaborated. The undersize fines can be efficiently recovered through sintering mixture proportioning,cold briquetting (CBI),and modification of converter OG sludge. When metallized pellets are returned to the blast furnace,the proportion must be controlled to mitigate the impact of residual zinc on the blast furnace. Direct injection technology via iron troughs/ torpedo ladles can overcome the limitations of zinc circulation and enhance hot metal productivity. In steelmaking applications, it is required to optimize the proportioning strategy according to the quality requirements of the steel grade,and to make the sulfur content of the molten steel meet the specifications of the target steel grade by leveraging the coupled process of converter blowing and secondary refining. Meanwhile,the adoption of the ITmk3 process requires breakthroughs in technological bottlenecks through university-industry collaboration to advance its localization. A full-process cost analysis indicates that,compared to the traditional route,the cost per ton of steel is reduced by approximately 47. 7% when metallized products from the rotary hearth furnace are routed to the converter and sintering,while the reduction is about 29. 1% when routed to the blast furnace and sintering. The findings of this paper can provide theoretical and technical support for improving the quality and efficiency of the rotary hearth furnace process and facilitating the multi-path collaborative consumption of metallized products.