Waste Electrical And Electronic Equipment Management Research Articles

The potential impact of the new ‘Right to Repair’ rules on electrical and electronic equipment waste: A case study of the UK

Every year an estimated two million tonnes of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) are discarded by householders and companies in the United Kingdom (UK). While the UK has left the European Union (EU), its waste-related policies still mirror those of the EU, including the WEEE-related policies. Motivated by the recent introduction the so-called ‘Right to Repair’ policy for electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) across the EU and UK, this paper aims to demonstrate that, depending on the commitment and behavioural changes by the consumers and the government, the future of the WEEE management of the UK will vary. To this end, focusing on landfilled WEEE reduction we develop a generic system dynamics model and apply it to eleven WEEE categories. They depict the flow of EEE and WEEE representing the interaction among the stakeholders (e.g., consumers and producers of EEE) and relevant government regulations of the UK. Our four scenario analyses find that longer use of EEE and better WEEE collection seem to be effective in reducing landfilled WEEE, while more reuse and more recycling and recovery have negligible impacts, despite excluding the additional generation of landfilled WEEE as a result of recycling and recovery. Comparing with the business-as-usual scenario, one year longer EEE use and 10% more of WEEE collection could at maximum reduce landfilled WEEE by 14.05% of monitoring and control instruments and 93.93% of display equipment respectively. Backcasting scenario analyses reveal that significant efforts are required to reduce the targeted amounts.

Generation estimation and critical metals quantity assessment of retired mobile phones in Japan

The sustainable management of WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) can contribute to the defense of the ESBs (Earth System Boundaries) and achievement of the UN SDGs (United Nations Sustainable Development Goals). This work conducted reasonable generation estimation and critical metals quantity assessment of retired mobile phones in Japan with the sales&new method. The generation estimation is based on the statistical data including sales and quantity of the subscribers. The result shows that there are 31.20 million of mobile phones retired in 2021, comparing 32.83 million in 2008. The calculated lifetime have minimum and maximum value in 2008 and 2019, which is 3.36 and 7.58, comparing 6.42 in 2021. 17 metals are selected as critical metals, with which the quantity and dynamic are also calculated. The replacement from feature phones to smart phones demand less of 11 metals, which shows the critical metals savings leading by the technological innovation.

Implementation of EU Rules on Circular Economy in Romanian EEE Sector: Targets and Results

Our review is focused on the complex issue of circularity in the Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) sector in Romania, taking into account the European regulatory framework and those pressing factors justified by the growing concerns for maintaining a clean environment and protecting public health. Emphasizing the issue of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and the imperative of their inclusion in the circular economy, we compellingly highlight the most significant aspects of this theme, at both the European Union and Romanian levels. Special attention is given to the analysis of norms, practices, and outcomes regarding the man-agement of WEEE at the national level, simultaneously highlighting the main problems and dif-ficulties faced by the addressed field. Clearly, in the conclusion of the paper, we also make a series of proposals for improving the situation. Striving for a comprehensive treatment of the issue, we believe that the work can be of great value to researchers, industry professionals, decision-makers, legislators, as well as entrepreneurs who perceive the EEE/WEEE sector as one where profitable businesses can be conducted.

Towards Sustainable WEEE Management:Challenges, Insights and a Strategic Framework

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) management presents profound environmental challenges worldwide. In locales like Huila, Colombia, devising effective strategies is paramount for fostering sustainable trajectories. This investigation aims to identify the salient elements essential for developing a proficient approach to WEEE management in this region. Employing a predominantly qualitative mixed-methods approach, the study intertwines inductive, deductive, and abductive rationales, applying an interpretative perspective. Our sample encompassed 72 stakeholders active in WEEE management, extending from urban households to WEEE-focused businesses and environmental entities. Comprehensive questionnaires gathered data on socio-demographics, WEEE awareness, comprehension of relevant regulations, and associated practices. An exhaustive descriptive statistical analysis examined each variable's behavior, supplemented by visual representations and pivotal statistical parameters. These findings were further augmented by a SWOT analysis. Results emphasize the cardinal challenges in sculpting a strategic WEEE management pathway, yielding insights indispensable for policymakers intent on refining WEEE procedures. Moreover, the investigation introduces a methodical framework for secure, effective electronic waste handling, transportation, precious metal extraction, and disposal. Fundamentally, this research enriches the discourse on WEEE management, proffering pragmatic solutions with extensive ramifications. Received: 15 August 2023 / Accepted: 21 October 2023 / Published: 5 November 2023

Management of Small WEEE: Future Directions for Australia

Globally, the generation of small Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) is rapidly increasing and accounted for over 30% of total E-waste in 2019. Managing this critical waste stream has proven challenging in Australia due to diverse product categories, short lifespans, and high frequency of disposal. To address the issue, a Multivocal Literature Analysis was conducted to identify prevailing situations, barriers, and prospects for a practical management framework. Findings were thematically analysed based on sustainability and circular-economy principles. The study revealed several critical obstacles, including the lack of involvement by local governments, the mixing of small WEEE with municipal waste, the absence of an established repair and reuse culture, and the limited domestic application of recovered metals. To address these issues, the study identifies the need for a dedicated co-regulatory stewardship scheme based on extended producer responsibility with eco-modulated fees and realistic scheme targets. Additionally, to accommodate the high product diversity, the expansion of treatment infrastructure is suggested while encouraging responsible consumption among customers. The findings of this investigation hold substantial value for the regulatory bodies in developing and implementing small-WEEE management schemes for Australia.

Socio-economic correlation analysis and hybrid artificial neural network model development for provincial waste electrical and electronic equipment generation forecasting in China

Ability to forecast the waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) generation can help formulate a robust future WEEE management system. Previous studies applied forecasting models, such as the grey model and artificial neural networks, to predict WEEE generation from a country perspective, leading to less accurate forecasts due to huge socio-economic differences in rural and urban areas. Additionally, there has been the incompatibility of a single forecasting model for all WEEE types, and this remained a research gap. Taking advantage of respective forecasting models, this study presents a hybrid model, Grey Artificial Neural Network, to forecast the WEEE generation of 31 province-level regions in China while evaluating the socio-economic analysis of seven WEEE types via Pearson correlation analysis. More than 70% of WEEE from province-level regions strongly correlates (R > ±0.8) with the gross domestic product and the population, whereas some top WEEE-generating province-level regions (i.e., Tianjin and Shanghai) correlate weakly to moderately. The root mean square error and mean absolute error of the developed Grey Artificial Neural Network hybrid model are the lowest at 8.29 and 6.48, compared to the grey model (13.53 and 11.13) and back-propagation neural network (9.21 and 7.22). Though the Grey Artificial Neural Network hybrid model has the lowest error, posterior mean square deviation ratio analysis indicates that this hybrid model is only suitable for washing machines, refrigerators, color televisions, and personal computers (urban area), while the back-propagation neural network is suitable for monochrome televisions, air conditioners, and personal computers (rural area). Compared to 2019, it is projected that an additional 32.92 M units of WEEE will be generated by 2025, suggesting that China should build at least 15 extra recycling centers (14% more based on 2016) to handle the increased WEEE generation. This study provides policy implications for effective WEEE monitoring and collection systems to build resilient WEEE management.

Environmental and Social Life Cycle Assessment of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Management in Italy According to EU Directives

The current Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) management system of the European Union to be applied in all member states was introduced in 2002 by the first WEEE directive (2002/96/EC). Since the beginning, the system was intended to improve the management of WEEE and promote circular economy principles in the sector. This study aims at evaluating the environmental and social impacts of the WEEE management system in Italy, with a special focus on collection and recycling in Campania Region (the third more populated Italian Region, Southern Italy). The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is jointly applied with the Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA). All five categories of WEEE (R1 to R5) are considered in the assessment. The LCA results show that the extraction of metals and materials from 1 tonne of WEEE collection and recycling generates much lower environmental impacts than the extraction and refining of an equivalent amount of virgin resources. In particular, the results of the environmental LCA highlight that the treatment of 1 tonne of WEEE collected in the Campania Region provides the opportunity to recover several metals such as Aluminum, Iron, Steel and ferrous materials, Copper, Nickel, Lead, and precious metals (Gold, Silver, and Palladium). According to S-LCA, the collection and recycling of 1 tonne of WEEE provides positive impacts to the investigated sub-categories of recipients (i.e., local community and society), except in some cases where the collection may potentially generate negative impacts, expressed by a lower “safe and healthy living conditions” indicator in the local community sub-category. In particular, much more must be done to support small Municipalities towards better collection procedures and integration within the largest Regional and national WEEE valorization networks. Solutions are suggested to improve the transition of the WEEE management system towards a more just environmental and social circular economy model.

Circular Economy Management of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) in Italian Urban Systems: Comparison and Perspectives

This study evaluates the current collection and recycling of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) in Italy by means of the analysis of national and regional data from EUROSTAT and the Italian WEEE Coordination Centre database, as well as through qualitative interviews with key stakeholders of the WEEE management system of the Campania region (Southern Italy). Urban systems, among which the metropolitan city of Naples in the Campania region, are the main users of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) and, as a consequence, the main generators of WEEE, which must be managed and recovered properly in order to prevent the loss of valuable resources and the associated environmental impacts. In addition to analysing the current state of WEEE collection and recycling in Italy and its regions and urban systems, the study aims to improve our understanding of the WEEE reverse supply chain and the main barriers and drivers to collection and recycling. The results reveal that the main barriers to the collection/delivery/recycling of WEEE resulted in the low awareness of the citizens about the importance of WEEE recovery, the lack of trust towards administrators, the lack of certified first treatment plants, the aversion of the citizens to the opening of new plants due to past inefficient solutions in solid waste management, the exploitation of high value materials only (so-called “cannibalization”, the illegal trade of WEEE, the influence of the market on the valorization of secondary materials), and, finally, the dominance of economic efficiency over the proximity advantage for the disposal of solid waste. On the other hand, the main drivers for collection emerged to be the adoption of education programmes in schools and constant communication campaigns directed to citizens in order to improve WEEE collection and recycling behaviour; the adoption of economic and non-economic incentives; the availability of municipal collection points (ecological islands) and other collection centres characterised by easy access by citizens for the delivery of their WEEE.

Comparative Analysis of Three WEEE Management Scenarios Based on LCA Methodology: Case Study in the Municipality of Iasi, Romania

The increasing consumption of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE), correlated with the fast innovation pace in this field, generates a large amount of annual waste. The current established management practices cannot keep up with it, and the results are of increased significance given the negative effects on the environment and human health. Thus, the current study aimed to analyze the environmental impact of three different scenarios of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) management, following population awareness campaigns regarding its collection in the Municipality of Iasi, Romania. Data processing was carried out considering Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology with the established functional unit for each scenario according to the collected amount. The results were quantified using the CML2001 and ReCiPe methods and showed that the highest environmental impact was obtained for scenario II (S2) (1.59 × 10−7 pers. equiv. using the CML2001 method and 32.7 pers. equiv. using the ReCiPe method), while the lowest for scenario I (S1) (6.42 × 10−8 pers. equiv. using the CML2001 method and 13.8 pers. equiv. using the ReCiPe method). The process with the highest contribution to the total environmental impact was the collection stage for all scenarios, with the exception of scenario S2, in which case the highest value was generated for the landfill process following the application of the ReCiPe method (39.93%). The current study provides value to a critical issue in the environmental area and supports the development of sustainable WEEE management processes.

Reverse Chain for Electronic Waste to Promote Circular Economy in Brazil: A Survey on Electronics Manufacturers and Importers

Government requirements for the management of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) by electronics manufacturers and importers has raised some difficulties in structuring the reverse chain of WEEE in Brazil, notably due to the territorial extension of the country. The need to implement circular economy practices (CE) in the reverse chain of WEEE has been acknowledged as a key requirement for sustaining the international competitiveness of Brazilian companies. In this context, this study sets up to evaluate the flows of the reverse chain of WEEE, aiming to promote CE as well as its actions for the recycling, reuse, remanufacturing, and reduction of WEEE in Brazil. The study identifies and characterizes key manufacturing decisions for developing waste management capabilities, including the need for waste management responsibilities for installing and operating the collection points and transporting waste to recyclers. Likewise, the study highlights the relevance of the adoption of strategies for selling recycled materials to the secondary market, along with reusing and reducing the use of virgin materials. Initially, the managerial strategy is based on recycling and remanufacturing actions due to short-term monetary revaluation, in addition to the immediate resolution of the complex problem. It should be noted that the decision to outsource WEEE management does not exempt the manufacturer from reusing and reducing material consumption, an important contribution that must be taken into account in organizational practice, beyond the immediate resolution of the complex problem.

Uncaptured mercury lost to the environment from waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) in scrap metal and municipal wastes

Mercury is a persistent toxic substance and once in the environment it can be transformed by bacteria into methylmercury which bioaccumulates in food chains. Prevention of mercury releases are key to protecting human health. Alternatives to mercury in products are now available and further phase-outs are underway as the Minamata Convention progresses toward its aims. In the European Union, mercury is a priority substance for safe removal from WEEE collected and treated. Despite mercury phase outs, WEEE items will continue to necessitate mercury depollution for many years to come. Capture of mercury-added product waste and their replacement products at source protects health, the environment and progresses the circular economy in terms of job creation and critical raw materials recovery. This paper presents an analysis of mercury-containing WEEE observed in scrap metal sites and kerbside waste collection in Ireland, these items did not undergo depollution and so the mercury contained within is lost to the environment. Mercury-added products found in metal scrap included desktop PCs, laptops, screens, LCD, LED and plasma screens and monitors, and assorted fluorescent and special lamps. It is estimated that a minimum of 17.89 kgs of mercury was released to the environment in 2018 due to inappropriate WEEE management from demolition, renovation, and home maintenance activities. Whilst the impact of the Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive in reducing mercury content in products is undoubtably positive, mercury emissions due to historic WEEE, professional WEEE, and batteries are not fully understood. The key loss of mercury was due to inappropriate gas discharge lamp handling at scrap metal sites and in municipal wastes. Protecting local environments from exposure and ensuring the safe recovery of mercury should be prioritised. The findings of this research highlight an urgent need to develop indicators of mercury-added product stocks and flows to optimise hazardous waste management in support of the circular economy. Improved material flow analysis with respect to mercury-added products are necessary for more accurate estimates in national inventories, thereby aiding global efforts to eliminate anthropogenic mercury releases especially from secondary release sources.

A comprehensive review of used electrical and electronic equipment management with a focus on the circular economy-based policy-making

In recent years, technological advancements have resulted in a proliferation of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE), accompanied by a rising massive amount of used electrical and electronic equipment (UEEE). Studies show that if transboundary flows of UEEE are carried out illegally, it can be one of the reasons for the increase in the volume of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) in developing countries, which necessitates urgent attention to the management of UEEE and WEEE. Toxic chemical components of WEEE can negatively impact ecosystems and human health and pose a severe threat to accomplishing sustainable development goals (SDGs). This review article provides an in-depth survey of UEEE and its differences from WEEE. UEEE is examined in detail to determine whether it is a potential toxic threat or a valuable source. If the transboundary flows of UEEE occur under legal regulations, it is a step toward a circular economy (CE), and the UEEE is recognized as a valuable resource. Otherwise, it is a potential threat to developing countries. Furthermore, the UEEE and WEEE are assessed from the perspective of international law, particularly the transboundary movement guidelines. In the following, the challenges in the transboundary flows of UEEE from developed to developing countries are mentioned. These challenges include a lack of inventory data, weak waste management policies and laws, expansion of the informal sector, and weak monitoring by law enforcement agencies for reliable environmental management. Finally, solutions to current challenges are presented. Undoubtedly, proper global management and legislation of UEEE and WEEE can help reduce the risks of e-waste and be the most effective way to achieve sustainable development goals.

Different Strategies and Management between Countries towards Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) to the Realization of Sustainability

As one of the major waste streams towards the global environment, waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), also called e-waste, is a huge problem needed to solve. Different countries are using various types of strategies and management to ensure the WEEE is limited to the minimum effect on the environment. Using China and the United States as the typical countries to disclose the action different countries have taken towards the management of e-waste. The legislations of e-waste policies are implemented in many countries which the major e-waste produced countries are considered in this paper to form the comparison between those countries. Most countries in Europe are showing more attention towards the management of WEEE and countries such as India or Brazil are less focused on the recycling of WEEE. The major e-waste produced countries tend to have more moderate management to balance the economy and the environment.

A customer-centric IoT-based novel closed-loop supply chain model for WEEE management

Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) has been one of the widest and soaring solid wastes worldwide. Circular economy, as a sustainable paradigm, promotes closing the loop of e-products to prolong the life of WEEE. Hence, a sustainable Internet of things (IoT)-based closed-loop supply chain (CLSC) system is established considering the economic, environment and social dimensions. Due to the reality constraints, a simulation model with two scenarios is constructed to consider the customers’ behavior in the system. The attribute importance of customers’ behavior is analysed. Second-hand price and buy back price are shown to be two highly important factors, followed by peer pressure and social influence. Additionally, we present a sustainability assessment with the extant system using life cycle assessment, showing that our proposed system is more sustainable. Appropriate WEEE management using the proposed IoT-enabled system makes more profit and can reduce more greenhouse gas emissions and heavy metal contamination. In addition, with applying the proposed system, the number of people being protected from diseases caused by heavy metals can be significantly reduced.

Implementation challenges of blockchain technology in closed-loop supply chain: A Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) management perspective in developing countries

ABSTRACT Closed-loop supply chain (CLSC) activities ensure flawless Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) management by the usage of IoT and Blockchain technology (BCT) is proven as an effective and sustainable solution among developed countries. However, implementation challenges including data integrity, accessibility, and reluctance to change restrict the potential of these digital technologies in developing countries. Thus, to extend the existing literature, the study has relevance. Based on a systematic literature review, Best Worst Method (BWM) is used for determining the most critical BCT implementation barriers affecting WEEE. This study identifies the IoT-enabled BCT implementation issues in closed-loop WEEE management. This study examines the appropriate issues in the context of developing a legislative support system, ineffective database management, low understanding of cognitive technologies, and information security and privacy are the key concerns for BCT implementation in closed-loop supply chains. The model is an effort in the waste management domain for the transition of developing economies towards circularity.

Household E-Waste Management: A Case Study of Wroclaw, Poland

Improper collection and processing of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) pose a serious threat to the environment and prevent the recovery of valuable materials. Due to the decreasing availability of resources and production materials, the relevance of WEEE recycling has increased. WEEE should be seen as an important source of raw materials for European economies. Moreover, e-waste recycling has a positive impact on the environment by limiting energy use and CO2 emissions during ore processing. The objective of this study was the analysis of the product use times, the reasons for purchasing new devices, and the consumers’ behavior, knowledge, and awareness concerning WEEE collection and treatment. This study discusses these issues based on a survey on electronic waste management in Wroclaw (Poland). The results from 495 questionnaire respondents indicated a shortening use time of many types of electronic and electric equipment (EEE). The “failure of the device” was the primary reason respondents replaced their products. It was indicated by 90% of the respondents. In many cases, the repair of devices was unprofitable. The most important factor determining the purchase of new devices was their price. The environmental factors, mainly those giving economic benefits, were also considered. Despite the implementation of the extended producer responsibility, the functioning model of WEEE collection has proven to be ineffective. A significant amount of small WEEE ended up in waste bins. For this reason, the willingness of residents to pay an additional fee for WEEE collection was also estimated. The results indicated that campaigns to increase residents’ awareness of WEEE management should continue.

An overview study on management and implementation of WEEE in China.

Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) which contains various valuable and harmful materials is an inevitable waste in modern society. In order to resolve the pollution problems associated with WEEE treatment, a WEEE management system has been established in China. The main role of importers and manufacturers of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) is to pay the treatment fees to facilitate the WEEE recycling in China. The announced treatment and subsidy fee is given by set, not by the weight of WEEE. There is no lesser green treatment fee for the producers which can produce environmentally friendly EEE in China. Also, the recovery of refrigerants from the foaming agent of refrigerators is not required in China. In total, 45 million sets of recycled WEEE were certified in 2020, a year that contains the most updated data. Among them, 48%, 14%, 20%, 10% and 8% are for TV, refrigerator, washing machine, computer and air conditioners, respectively. The spatial analysis indicates that the WEEE recycling activities are mainly concentrated on the mid-east and east regions of China. It also can be concluded that the certified amount of each province has higher positive correlation with provincial population than provincial GDP per capita and green recovery rate. It also clearly notes that the amount of recycled air conditioner is the lowest for each province. Thus, more effort should be conducted to increase the recycling of scrapped air conditioner in China.

What drives WEEE recycling? A comparative study concerning legislation, collection and recycling.

Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) has been rising worldwide, and its improper management incurs in economic losses and environmental damage. To provide a better understanding of the forces that drive the management of WEEE, economic and political roles are discussed by comparing the WEEE recycling system of Brazil and Australia. Additional insights about the recycling systems were gathered from interviews with recyclers of both countries (in-loco visits and online/phone surveys). Previous studies show that both countries act as first stage recyclers, dismantling WEEE to ship their valuable components for international recyclers (such as printed circuit boards) while keeping less valuable material (such as polymeric and ferrous pieces). Australia has defined the responsibilities of most agents involved in the WEEE management and recycling setup, while Brazil inadvertently has left the system to be defined through free market regulation. As Brazil recently signed a reverse logistic agreement, there is an important opportunity to channel WEEE into formal routes and implement improvements in the entire recycling system (some suggestions are provided). Australian recyclers were found more organised in their disassembly lines, and some characteristics of the Australian model can be adapted for the Brazilian benefit. In conclusion, economic factors will drive first stage recycling (where labour wages are a small fraction of the total costs) and international downstream recycling, while a political framework is necessary to establish a comprehensive collection system, first stage recycling (where wages are representative) and domestic downstream recycling, given these are generally non-profitable activities in the short term.

New Models to Reduce the Health Risks of Informal WEEE Recyclers in MTN Phone Village, Rumukurushi, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) management in Port Harcourt, an oil-producing city in Nigeria, has become an environmental challenge for the location. WEEE recycling is predominantly managed by informal recyclers, who lack the skills to perform risk-free recycling, hence raising health risks to individuals in associated communities and degrading the environment. Formal recycling, which embraces the best practices for effective WEEE management, is faced with several limitations, such as a lack of detailed guidelines on waste recycling, reuse, and final disposal techniques, with no opportunities for landfilling. A qualitative approach was adopted for this study. Data were gathered via questionnaires and analysed graphically. A background literature review of the assessment of informal recycling methods and associated challenges was performed. Hence, a new concept for the local management of WEEE processing was introduced. This concept limits the role of informal recyclers to WEEE collection. In this case, informal recyclers are paid for WEEE collection; they no longer engage in further WEEE processing. The results show that 48% and 40% agree to partner and collaborate with government agencies, respectively. Conversely, 52% and 40% agree and strongly agree, respectively, to limit their activities to WEEE collection only if the government is willing to pay for the services.

Sustainable waste electrical and electronic equipment management guide in emerging economies context: A structural model approach

With globalization and the rapid advancement of information technology, waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) management has become a significant concern among electronic manufacturers. It motivated researchers to identify barriers and enablers of sustainable WEEE management. However, existing literature could not capture multi-stakeholder's perspective while identifying enablers crucial for developing sustainable WEEE management policy, especially in emerging economies. The present study fulfils the gap by considering multi-stakeholder's perspective to identify enablers of sustainable WEEE management in an emerging economy, i.e., India. We identified 23 potential enablers through literature review and discussion with domain experts. Subsequently, the finalized enablers were analyzed to uncover the cause-effect relationship using a hybrid grey-based decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) approach. Findings revealed that research and development capabilities and digitization, extended producer responsibility, monitoring of illegal import and dumping, environmental regulations and WEEE policies, and use of green or cleaner technologies for waste recycling were recognized as the most significant causal enablers. The study contributes to the theoretical knowledge by categorizing enablers under different theoretical frameworks. It can also assist policymakers, practitioners, and electronic manufacturers in framing policies related to the circular economy and sustainable WEEE management to meet the sustainable development goals of 2030.