E-WASTE AWARENESS AND DISPOSAL BEHAVIOR OF STUDENTS: A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK AND RESEARCH AGENDA

Abstract

An exponential increase in technology consumption at an individual level boosted waste generation. Pakistan is among a few countries generating and receiving enormous e-waste, which posits a threat to our future generations. Therefore, there is a dire need to explore consumer understanding and behaviour to design policies in order to avoid the most likely threat to human and environmental health. To this end, we explored the consumer e-waste awareness level and noticeable factors hindering the disposal of laptops, personal computers, and mobiles due to their substantial chunk in e-waste. The study used the qualitative research approach and non-probability purposive sampling. We organized four face-to-face heterogeneous Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), each of 8-10 undergraduate-and-graduate-level students studying at Pakistani universities. After reaching saturation, we developed the themes from FGDs and points jotted down in the self-memos. We found computer sciences and engineering students with better awareness levels than students from other departments, such as management, mathematics, and education. Further, external motivators, i.e., lower monetary benefits for disposing of, breach of sensitive information, nostalgic association with devices, and non-availability of disposal facilities, hinder e-waste disposal. Other variables like lower resale value and high family sharing increase the storage of e-devices and curb e-waste disposal. The research is among a few initial attempts to explore e-waste awareness and disposal behaviour in Pakistan and provide evidence from students who significantly use e-devices. The findings are crucial for policymakers and tech companies to take corrective actions, introduce monetary benefits, and secure disposal facilities to increase e-waste disposal.