Modeling the e-waste mitigation strategies using grey-theory and DEMATEL framework

Abstract E-waste problem is putting pressure on environmental agencies, government, original equipment manufacturers of developing nations like India to adopt, develop and innovate environment friendly e-waste mitigation strategies, with the objective to manage and control the ever growing threat of e-waste to the environment, society and human health. Moreover, increasing producer responsibility, informal recycling practices and disposal issues have given attention to adopt mitigation strategies for successful implementation of e-waste management system. This study acknowledges the critical strategies to recover resources along with processing and treatment of toxic and hazardous component of e-waste mitigation and management which is immediate and existing challenge for India. A combined framework based on Grey concept and DEMATEL technique has been proposed in this work to determine the interdependence among the e-waste mitigation strategies (MS) by cause/effect analysis. This study has revealed that ‘top management initiation and commitment towards return management’ is the most imperative and driving strategy in the e-waste management and control. It also influences the other existing strategies. This work has also highlighted that e-waste mitigation can be effective if it concentrates on effective implementation of e-waste policy, directives and regulations such as extended producer responsibility (EPR), advance recycling fee (ARF) etc., technological and green innovations in recycling network and strategic alliance among supply chain partners and e-waste recyclers (in-house and outsource service provider) in Indian scenario in the management of e-waste issues. The cause–effect relationships are helpful to the managers, Government agencies and policy makers to learn crucial causal strategies that require imperative emphasis in dealing with e-waste issues in India. Sensitivity analysis was also conducted to test the robustness of the proposed framework.