Rising trends and real-world potential: Bibliometric analysis and quantitative benchmarking of decentralized micro-recycling systems for e-waste plastics

E-waste plastic recycling has become an emerging pillar of sustainable construction, yet a consolidated understanding of research trends, knowledge gaps, and performance data remains underexplored. This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric review of 247 articles retrieved from the Web of Science database using the PRISMA protocol. Employing Bibliometric and VOS viewer, the analysis identifies key trends in publication growth, author impact, institutional leadership, and thematic evolution. A distinct shift from conventional metal recovery to circular economy models is evident, with India, Australia, China, and Japan leading global contributions. The Indian Institute of Technology System and CSIR India emerge as key institutions, while top dissemination channels include Journal of Cleaner Production, Waste Management, and Journal of Environmental Management. In a novel contribution, this review integrates bibliometric mapping with quantitative performance benchmarking of decentralized micro-recycling systems (DMRS) for e-waste plastics. Comparative metrics demonstrate that DMRS can reduce transportation costs by up to 70 %, lower emissions by 60–70 %, and enhance job creation and energy efficiency marking them as viable, scalable alternatives to centralized systems. Five thematic clusters and four critical knowledge gaps are identified, calling for further research in durability standards, regulatory frameworks, and scalable deployment of DMRS within circular economy frameworks.