Waste Management: A Bibliometric Review and Future Research Agenda

This study mapped waste-management research using a Scopus-derived dataset of 1,022 journal records for 2014–2026 and a supplied annual production series extending from 2014 to 2025. The descriptive results show substantial growth in publication activity, a broad range of publication outlets and meaningful international collaboration. The themes most relevant to Operations Research include optimisation, decision-making, municipal solid waste, recycling, life-cycle assessment, energy recovery and circular economy. The review suggests that the next stage of research should connect prediction with optimisation and integrate collection, sorting, treatment and material recovery decisions. Models should account for uncertainty, environmental impacts, household behaviour, multiple stakeholders and equity. At the same time, the limitations of the bibliometric export mean that the findings should be treated as a descriptive map rather than definitive evidence of all research activity. More complete metadata, transparent search strategies and reproducible benchmarks would support stronger future analysis. Overall, integrated and context-sensitive OR models offer a promising basis for improving the efficiency, resilience and sustainability of waste-management systems.

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