multi-criteria decision-making for fluorescent lamp disposal using extended group fuzzy topsis and two-tuple linguistic representation

The improper disposal of used fluorescent lamps poses serious environmental and public health risks because of their mercury content and other hazardous materials. despite growing awareness, the absence of a structured and sustainable disposal strategy remains a major challenge for many developing countries. this study aims to evaluate and prioritize alternative disposal scenarios for fluorescent lamp waste in iran, taking into account environmental, economic, and social dimensions. to achieve this, a multi-criteria decision-making (mcdm) approach was adopted, combining an extended group fuzzy topsis method with the 2-tuple linguistic representation model to handle expert opinions under uncertainty. four practical scenarios were analyzed: long-term storage, recycling with residue disposal, landfilling, and cement co-processing. the results revealed that the scenario involving crushing, processing, washing, recycling, and disposal of residue achieved the highest sustainability score, offering a balanced performance across all criteria. its ranking is supported by prior studies emphasizing integrated recovery systems and circular economy benefits. the findings not only validate the proposed hybrid decision-making model but also provide a replicable framework to guide policymakers, environmental regulators, and waste management stakeholders in developing sustainable e-waste strategies.