This study introduces a novel multi-criteria group evaluation approach grounded in the theory of basic uncertain information (BUI) to facilitate the selection of green recycling suppliers for shared electric bikes. Firstly, a comprehensive index system of green recycling suppliers is established, encompassing recycling capacity, environmental sustainability, financial strength, maintenance capabilities, and policy support, to provide a solid foundation for the scientific selection process. Secondly, the basic uncertain information generalized power weighted average (BUIGPWA) operator is proposed to aggregate group evaluation information with BUI pairs, and some related properties are investigated. Furthermore, the basic uncertain information-based best–middle–worst TOPSIS (BUI-BMW-TOPSIS) model incorporating the best, middle, and worst reference points to enhance decision-making accuracy is proposed. Ultimately, by integrating the BUIGPWA operator for group information aggregation with the BUI-BMW-TOPSIS model to handle multi-criteria decision information, a novel multi-criteria group decision-making (MCGDM) method is constructed to evaluate green recycling suppliers for shared electric bikes. Case analyses and comparative analyses demonstrate that compared with the BUIWA operator, the BUIGPWA operator yields more reliable results because of its consideration of the degree of support among decision-makers. Furthermore, in contrast to the traditional TOPSIS method, the BUI-BMW-TOPSIS model incorporates the credibility of information provided by decision-makers, leading to more trustworthy outcomes. Notably, variations in attribute weights significantly impact the decision-making results. In summary, our methods excel in handling uncertain information and complex multi-criteria group decisions, boosting scientific rigor and reliability, and supporting optimization and sustainability of shared electric bike green recycling suppliers.
