Abstract
E-waste is any refuse created by discarded electronic devices and components as well as substances involved in their manufacture or use. Minimising the production of e-waste helps preserve resources and reducing the amount of energy drawn from the earth. One of the strategies to address this problem is raising e-waste disposal awareness in a sustainable manner among the community. This article aims to identify the level of e-waste disposal awareness among the Malaysia community. This study involved 500 people from nine districts in Selangor, Malaysia by using stratified random sampling method. A questionnaire instrument was used to obtain feedback. The three variables of e-waste disposal awareness studied were e-waste disposal knowledge, e-waste disposal attitudes and e-waste disposal practices. Each variable was divided into three sub-variables; environmental, social and economic. The results showed that the respondents’ e-waste disposal knowledge and e-waste disposal attitudes were at a high level, while their e-waste disposal practice were at a medium level. The findings and issues studied can be used as a reference for the government, non-governmental organisations, the authorities and the community when seeking to develop a more sustainable community life.
Highlights
Advances in technology, the development of electric and electronic appliances, are being made in Malaysia and provide a positive contribution to human life
On the level of e-waste disposal awareness, the findings are divided according to the study variables, which are e-waste disposal knowledge, e-waste disposal attitudes and ewaste disposal practices
The results of this study show that the e-waste disposal method that is often practised by respondents is to sell such goods as used appliances. This is followed by swapping them with new appliances, dropping them off at a recycling centre, keeping them in a store/outdoors, donating to charities, schools or others, disposing of them together with other trash, giving them to friends or relatives, and lastly, the method least used by the respondents is to sell them to classic/old item collectors
Summary
The development of electric and electronic appliances, are being made in Malaysia and provide a positive contribution to human life. An estimated 20 to 25 million tonnes of e-waste are generated each year worldwide (Abul Hasan et al, 2010) and the amount of e-waste will continue to increase every year in line with technological developments (Ibitz, 2012; Robinson, 2009). This means that the end-of-life of electric and electronic appliances has to be managed through a proper mechanism
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