E-waste is a critical emerging issue in both developed and developing countries as a result of increasing volume and quantity electrical and electronic equipment generated. E-waste contains both valuable and toxic materials, which require special collection and transport systems as first components of the management chain. Current thinking on the best practices dictates that it must be managed in an environmentally sound manner. Consequently, many countries have adopted various collection and transport system options that incorporate best practices with varied degrees of success. However, a search for appropriate collection system options in Ghana has received less scholarly attention. This paper explores e-waste collection and transport system options in an attempt to find management option suitable for Accra from the perspective of households, e-waste workers and institutions. The study throws more light on stakeholders’ perception about e-waste collection and transport system options which has the ability to re-direct and re-shape public policy and awareness on household e-waste management. The researcher used questionnaire to collect data from 347 households, 48 e-waste workers and 11 institutions for the study. The findings revealed that stakeholders identified recyclers’ or dismantlers’ collection system as the most suitable management for Accra. The paper found that key stakeholders have different interests in e-waste collection and transport system options. The study, therefore, draws attention of policy makers and waste planners to understand the nexus between stakeholders’ interests in order to adopt strategies that are more inclusive to satisfy varied interests.
Safe management of e-waste has become a major problem for many countries particularly developing countries. This is because e-waste management in an environmentally sound manner (ESM) is affected by many factors in most African countries. To address this emerging urban waste problem, city authorities are devising management strategies that would be acceptable to key stakeholders. This paper evaluates perceived drivers for and barriers to the adoption of e-waste management option in Accra, Ghana from the perspective of households, e-waste workers and institutions. The paper identified four critical factors that could facilitate the adoption of e-waste management option. These include regulatory framework, public health outcomes, education and awareness on e-waste management and good policies and stricter legislation. In addition, the paper identified poor policy framework, lack of or inadequate legal/regulatory framework, low public education and awareness of ewaste management and unhealthy conditions of informal recycling as the four most critical barriers to overcome in the search of e-waste management option. We draw attention of policy makers and waste planners to critically take into consideration the identified drivers and barriers in the adoption of any management option to ensure sound environmental practices.
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