Local community e-waste awareness and behavior. Polish case study

Abstract

e-Waste awareness and behavior of local Polish community has been examined. Specifically, the issue of selective waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) collection has been explored. The main objectives of the research was to evaluate an attitude of the individuals towards e-waste treatment and to recognize the causes of low efficiency of the current WEEE management. The research was conducted among the inhabitants of a small town in Poland. Collected data may be useful while preparing household WEEE management systems. Over 52% of respondents, each was a representative of one household, conducted selective electrical and electronic equipment waste collection. Unfortunately, 12% (mostly young people aged 16-25, 9%) admitted that they threw e-waste mixed with general municipal waste. Another 12% (aged 18-25) claimed that they had never disposed of WEEE. Nowadays, the technology is developing very fast and small electronic devices are frequently exchanged, so the above mentioned statement is unlikely to be true. The research survey confirmed that further costs should be borne on educational activities which will raise people's awareness concerning WEEE threats and motivate them to collect e-waste selectively. The improvement of the management system - increasing the number of e-waste drop off points, is necessary as well.