Circular economy-based operational strategies in the management of solar photovoltaics e-waste: A multi-stakeholder perspective

The growing field of circular economy (CE) offers a promising framework for the sustainable management of end-of-life (EOL) electronic waste (e-waste). However, translating this concept into a practical solution necessitates a nuanced understanding of implementation hurdles. This study delves into the complexities of EOL solar photovoltaic (PV) e-waste management within the Indian context. We propose a novel, structurally defined CE model specifically designed to address these challenges. Our research engages a diverse group of stakeholders, encompassing academic experts, e-waste collectors, and recyclers. By leveraging established literature and expert insights, we identify and analyze 18 key inhibitors to CE implementation. The Grey-DEMATEL method is employed to elucidate the causal relationships and interdependencies among these inhibitors, while Euclidean distance analysis reveals areas of consensus and divergence in stakeholder perspectives. Our findings highlight prevalent challenges, including a lack of incentives for e-waste collection and recycling, alongside shortcomings in extended producer responsibility and producer responsibility organization strategies. Ultimately, this investigation informs the development of targeted interventions aimed at bolstering reduce-reuse-recycle initiatives for EOL solar PV e-waste within the Indian solar energy sector.