Electronic and electrical waste (e-waste) has become one of the fastest growing waste problems due to the acceleration of digitalization and the shortening of product life cycles. E-waste research was initially addressed primarily within the framework of traditional management approaches focused on collection, disposal, and legislation. However, over time, as the exponential spread of e-waste in the environment and its serious effects on public health became understood, a shift in focus occurred in the literature. In recent years, e-waste has begun to be evaluated not only as a risk factor for the environment and public health, but also as a strategic source of income, in line with the circular economy perspective.

This book chapter addresses this shift in focus in e-waste research over time from a holistic perspective. This transformation, from traditional economic understanding to environmental and health-focused studies and then to circular strategies, is analyzed through a literature-based synthesis. The importance of addressing e-waste management within the framework of systems thinking is emphasized; the potential contributions of process design, decision-making, and optimization approaches from an industrial engineering perspective in this field are discussed. Ultimately, the study demonstrates that e-waste management is not merely a technical necessity but a strategic systems design problem in line with sustainability goals.