An integrated multi-criteria decision-making approach for evaluating e-waste mitigation strategies

Abstract

The need for effective electronic waste (e-waste) management practices has received wide attention due to increased societal awareness; however, the existence of challenges adds difficulties. This study identifies these critical e-waste management challenges through extensive literature reviews and targeted interaction with e-waste recycling units, and our work suggests strategies for e-waste mitigation. Then, an integrated framework of four methods — Fermatean fuzzy set (FFS), analytic hierarchy process (AHP), Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL), and Technique for order performance by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) – calculates the weightage of the challenges, depicts causal interrelationships among the challenges, and ranks the mitigation strategies. For India, the top five most critical challenges to e-waste management practices include the booming informal sector, illegal import of e-waste, lack of technical expertise, absence of guidelines for e-waste recycling, and lack of data inventory. India’s governmental establishment of an infrastructure for modern e-waste management represents the best potential strategy. Understanding the causal interrelationship and weightage of the challenges may help policymakers, industrial practitioners, and government agencies streamline e-waste management activities.