Strategic prioritization for Tehran's electronic waste management via integrated SWOT and QSPM analysis

This study developed a strategic framework for electronic waste management in Tehran, Iran's capital megacity, by integrating SWOT analysis with the Quantitative Strategic Planning Matrix (QSPM). Insights were obtained from a balanced panel of 30 local stakeholders: 15 public-sector officials from Tehran's Waste Management Organization and 15 managers of private recycling facilities. The QSPM analysis was then employed to prioritize the strategies, identifying six key approaches. The formulation of comprehensive health, safety, and environmental (HSE) regulations for e-waste recycling emerged as the top-priority strategy (Total Attractiveness Score (TAS) = 12.418). Subsequent priorities included optimizing e-waste collection processes (TAS = 10.764) and establishing dedicated e-waste sorting centers (TAS = 10.66). Sensitivity analysis confirmed the stability of this ranking against variations in key factor weights. The study identified significant gaps in supervision, infrastructure, and technical expertise, while also recognizing opportunities presented by Tehran's high population density and the availability of advanced technologies. To our knowledge, this work represents the first application of an integrated SWOT-QSPM framework to Tehran's e-waste challenge, offering a novel and replicable model for megacities facing comparable governance complexity and public-private integration barriers. The proposed framework provides municipal policymakers with a practical roadmap, indicating that the integrated SWOT-QSPM approach effectively generates tailored waste management strategies for megacities.