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.