Exploring Residents’ Preferences for E-Waste Recycling Scenarios in Vietnam — A Choice Experiment Study

Abstract

Increasing levels of waste from electrical and electronic devices (e-waste) not only harms human health and the environment but also hampers the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In response to such threats, emphasis should be placed on improving waste collection rate, which requires a great deal of resident participation. This research adopts a choice experiment analysis regarding the residents’ preferences toward some proposed e-waste recycling services in Vietnam. Using a sample of 531 respondents, the empirical analysis derived from multinomial logit (MNL) models and random parameter logit (RPL) models yields estimates of the residents’ willingness to pay for the two modes of e-waste collection and three levels of environmental benefit. The findings pinpoint that residents have preferences for the door-to-door pick-up and the higher percentage of waste reduction and material conservation. Of socio-demographic variables, only age and location are significant factors in the choice of e-waste recycling scenarios in the extended RPL model. Estimations of marginal willingness to pay for future recycling options show that on average residents are willing to pay the additional fees that are equal to 2.620% and 0.173% on top of the new product value per purchase in return for convenience of pick-up collection services and an improved percentage of waste avoided as well as materials recovered, respectively. The findings showing the residents’ demand for future e-waste recycling scheme provide crucial information for both government and stakeholders in strategizing implementable and acceptable e-waste recycling policies, thereby progressively achieving the SDGs.