The Challenges of E-waste Management Among Institutions: A Case Study of UKM

Abstract

As institutions are committed to practice sustainable development, the management of e-waste has recently become an important aspect of the sustainability goal. This paper is designed to identify and discuss on e-waste management challenges among institutions through a case study at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). A checklist was initially designed to identify issues related to e-waste management in UKM campus, interviews and surveys were conducted, presentations and dialogues took place during the period of the study. Some of the identified challenges are; inefficient data management, equipment classifications, low awareness on e-waste, collection and disposal problems and lack of specific regulations and policy on end-of-life electrical and electronic equipments (e-waste) management and practices within the University. This initiative can be an educational added value, by providing the possibility for the UKM employees and students to have the knowledge on the best e-waste management practice and the impact of e-waste to the environment. As each employee and student represents a household at the municipal level, this could help to strengthen e-waste management at all level.