A scientometric survey of highly cited waste management research: Trends, themes, and future directions,

Waste management has evolved from a local sanitation issue to a global interdisciplinary challenge, integral to circular economies, public health, and climate change mitigation. This scientometric survey analyzes the intellectual landscape of highly cited waste management research. Using a dataset of two hundred highly cited documents retrieved from Scopus, this study employs performance analysis and science mapping techniques to examine publication trends, influential authors, core journals, and dominant research themes. The analysis reveals a significant concentration of influence among a limited number of authors and journals, with a marked increase in publications after 2015. The intellectual structure is anchored by several major themes: plastic and microplastic pollution, circular economy frameworks, biological treatment technologies (anaerobic digestion, composting), chemical and thermal conversion (pyrolysis, gasification), material-specific recycling (e-waste, construction and demolition waste, batteries, steel slags), and advanced wastewater and soil remediation. A notable focus on the environmental and health impacts of pollutants, particularly from plastics and pharmaceuticals, coexists with technological solutionism. The field is shifting from end-of-pipe solutions to upstream strategies like prevention and circular design. Future research must prioritize the social and economic dimensions of implementation, develop standardized methods for emerging contaminants like microplastics, and address the challenges exacerbated by crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.