Household's awareness and participation in sustainable electronic waste management practices in Saudi Arabia

Electronic waste (e-waste) management is currently a priority, especially in economically developing nations, because improper waste disposal leads to economic loss and negative impacts on environment and public health. The aim of this study is to evaluate household awareness of e-waste, environment...

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Main Author: Abdulaziz I. Almulhim
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2022-06-01
Series:Ain Shams Engineering Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2090447922000405
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author Abdulaziz I. Almulhim
author_facet Abdulaziz I. Almulhim
author_sort Abdulaziz I. Almulhim
collection DOAJ
description Electronic waste (e-waste) management is currently a priority, especially in economically developing nations, because improper waste disposal leads to economic loss and negative impacts on environment and public health. The aim of this study is to evaluate household awareness of e-waste, environmental problems associated with improper disposal, and willingness to engage in managing e-waste. Using a snowball sampling method, an online questionnaire was administered to 523 respondents to gather data on household knowledge of waste management. Data were analyzed using statistical methods such as one-way ANOVA and t-tests. Of the participants, 70.1% claimed that they had not been educated on how e-waste poses a serious environmental problem, and 88.35% were willing to take part in managing waste after developing a proper understanding. Respondents in the study processed e-waste as if it were another sort of urban solid trash. E-waste was discarded by storing it in their home (45%) or discarding it with other household waste (32%). This was due to a lack of recycling options and poor understanding about the benefits and potentials of recycling e-waste, among other issues. The study made suggestions regarding educational interaction and raising public knowledge concerning e-waste, and it presented a practical e-waste management approach and concept. In addition, the paper presents a practical e-waste management approaches and concepts; like Value-Belief Norm and Extended Producer Responsibility might be implemented and used in tomorrow's Saudi. This paper can assist legislators and government organizations in Saudi Arabia and other developing countries in promoting awareness regarding e-waste management, eventually helping Saudi Arabia meet its Vision 2030 targets regarding sustainable production and consumption.
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spelling doaj.art-3d0835c2a8814c1187384ed6d0a7958c2022-12-22T02:25:41ZengElsevierAin Shams Engineering Journal2090-44792022-06-01134101729Household's awareness and participation in sustainable electronic waste management practices in Saudi ArabiaAbdulaziz I. Almulhim0Department of Urban and Regional Planning, College of Architecture and Planning, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 1982, Dammam 31451, Saudi ArabiaElectronic waste (e-waste) management is currently a priority, especially in economically developing nations, because improper waste disposal leads to economic loss and negative impacts on environment and public health. The aim of this study is to evaluate household awareness of e-waste, environmental problems associated with improper disposal, and willingness to engage in managing e-waste. Using a snowball sampling method, an online questionnaire was administered to 523 respondents to gather data on household knowledge of waste management. Data were analyzed using statistical methods such as one-way ANOVA and t-tests. Of the participants, 70.1% claimed that they had not been educated on how e-waste poses a serious environmental problem, and 88.35% were willing to take part in managing waste after developing a proper understanding. Respondents in the study processed e-waste as if it were another sort of urban solid trash. E-waste was discarded by storing it in their home (45%) or discarding it with other household waste (32%). This was due to a lack of recycling options and poor understanding about the benefits and potentials of recycling e-waste, among other issues. The study made suggestions regarding educational interaction and raising public knowledge concerning e-waste, and it presented a practical e-waste management approach and concept. In addition, the paper presents a practical e-waste management approaches and concepts; like Value-Belief Norm and Extended Producer Responsibility might be implemented and used in tomorrow's Saudi. This paper can assist legislators and government organizations in Saudi Arabia and other developing countries in promoting awareness regarding e-waste management, eventually helping Saudi Arabia meet its Vision 2030 targets regarding sustainable production and consumption.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2090447922000405E-wastePublic awarenessWaste management policyWillingness to participateSustainable E-waste ManagementExtended Producer Responsibility
spellingShingle Abdulaziz I. Almulhim
Household's awareness and participation in sustainable electronic waste management practices in Saudi Arabia
Ain Shams Engineering Journal
E-waste
Public awareness
Waste management policy
Willingness to participate
Sustainable E-waste Management
Extended Producer Responsibility
title Household's awareness and participation in sustainable electronic waste management practices in Saudi Arabia
title_full Household's awareness and participation in sustainable electronic waste management practices in Saudi Arabia
title_fullStr Household's awareness and participation in sustainable electronic waste management practices in Saudi Arabia
title_full_unstemmed Household's awareness and participation in sustainable electronic waste management practices in Saudi Arabia
title_short Household's awareness and participation in sustainable electronic waste management practices in Saudi Arabia
title_sort household s awareness and participation in sustainable electronic waste management practices in saudi arabia
topic E-waste
Public awareness
Waste management policy
Willingness to participate
Sustainable E-waste Management
Extended Producer Responsibility
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2090447922000405
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