Operations Research‐Based Formalisation and Design of Sustainable Reverse Logistics for E‐Waste Supply Chains
研究运用运筹学技术设计盈利、精益且环保的电子废弃物逆向物流系统，通过对比市政回收中心和社区维修咖啡馆模式，优化价值回收、减排和效率，对市政和废物处理机构有参考价值。
ABSTRACT This study demonstrates how a profitable, lean, and environmentally responsible e‐waste reverse logistics system can be designed using integrated Operations Research (OR) techniques. Addressing the growing urgency of responsible consumption (UN SDG 12) and the projected rise of the e‐waste sector to USD 137.60 billion by 2029, the research develops decision structures that jointly optimise value recovery, emissions reduction and time efficiency. An extended multiple‐case design compares a formal municipal recycling centre with a decentralised, community‐based Repair Café model to capture variation in governance and recovery logic. aTrans‐shipment optimisation, mixed‐integer decision‐tree modelling and queueing theory are then applied to design emissions‐efficient network flows, select optimal repair–reuse–cannibalisation routes and configure service capacity. Results show that most products reach obsolescence within 4–8 years, that structured repair and urban‐mining decisions support economic viability and that optimised routing and service configuration reduce emissions and waiting times. The research advances circular economy and urban‐mining theory by operationalising the PURE and CReW frameworks, offering a scalable, optimisation‐driven architecture for municipalities, waste processors and circular service organisations.