Appraisal of Households’ Knowledge and Perception towards E-Waste Management in Limpopo Province, South Africa

Abstract

The generation of electronic waste (e-waste) is increasing at an alarming rate in South Africa. This waste stream is also emanating from household appliances due to beneficial attributes accrued to the use of these electronic devices. At the same time, these devices are a source of concern considering the environmental impacts as well the threat of health hazards they possess to human wellbeing. In appraising household knowledge and perception on e-waste management in Limpopo Province of South Africa, 200 semi-structured, self-administered questionnaires were used in eliciting data from the participants. The results indicated that 76% of the respondents believed that e-waste streams have negatively affected their environment. Additionally, 85% of the survey households are willing to pay for the proper disposal of their e-waste. Furthermore, the results indicated a statistically significance between gender and knowledge on e-waste management (p-value 0.003) while there was no statistically significant difference between gender and perception (p-value 0.318) on e-waste management. Based on the results, the study recommends awareness and educational campaigns as a step in changing the perception of households on e-waste and environmental consciousness.

Special Issue “Feature Papers in Recycling 2021”

“…The topic related to users' knowledge and perception towards e-waste management was investigated also in [15], in the area of Limpopo Province, South Africa, through questionnaire administration. The results indicate that 76% of the users believed that e-waste negatively affects the environment, while 85% are willing to pay for the proper disposal of their e-waste.…”

Recycling and reusing electronic waste (E-Waste) as a potential emerging business : a consumer perception

“…Most developed countries have formulated effective legislation, established recycling infrastructure, and enforced the principle of extended producer responsibility (EPR) to manage the e-waste [4]. In developing countries, consumers face multiple challenges compared to industrial enterprises because of lack of awareness in handling the waste stream [4]. Thus, improving public awareness plays a vital role in designing a practical framework for e-waste management as an emerging business.…”