Blockchain for Sustainable E-Waste Management: A Review of Traceability, Compliance and Circular Economy Applications

Abstract

Electronic waste (e-waste) is among the fastest-growing global waste streams, with 62 million tonnes generated in 2022 and only 22.3% formally recycled, while generation is projected to reach 82 million tonnes by 2030. Fragmented record-keeping, weak chain-of-custody controls, and limited transparency enable illegal dumping, fraudulent recycling claims, and loss of recoverable materials. This paper presents a narrative literature review of blockchain and distributed ledger technologies applied to electronics and e-waste management. Following a structured search and relevance screening of major scientific databases, publisher platforms and grey literature (last search was run on 15 July 2026), 110 sources published between 2017 and 2026 were thematically synthesized across four domains: technological developments, sustainability and circular-economy implications, traceability and compliance mechanisms, and e-waste management applications. Blockchain delivers value primarily through an auditable chain-of-custody built on three pillars: standardized item and batch identities, standardized lifecycle event schemas, and licensed-actor attestations supported by off-chain evidence anchored on-chain. Recurring design patterns include permissioned consortium networks, hybrid storage, and role-based access control. Persistent barriers include data-input integrity, scalability, governance, and cost. Blockchain immutability protects stored records but cannot correct falsified inputs, making trusted data capture and governance the decisive factors for reliability. Adoption should be evaluated against measurable indicators, such as traceability completeness, audit-time reduction, fraud rates, and verified material recovery, rather than assumed benefits.