Usage of electronic devices and awareness regarding e-waste management amongst engineering college students: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: The total waste generated by obsolete or broken down electronic and electrical equipment was estimated to be 1,46,000 tonnes for the year 2005, which is expected to exceed 8,00,000 tonnes by 2012. However, according to the Green peace report in 2007, India generated 380,000 tonnes of e-waste. Only 3% of this made it to the authorized recyclers’ facilities.Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out amongst 133 Engineering Students of Sinhgad Institute of Technology College, Lonavala, Pune which is located in a rural field practice area of Smt. Kashibai Navale Medical College, Pune during the period of June 2016 to December 2016. Data was collected by using a self-administered questionnaire and analyzed by using Epi. Info 7 and appropriate statistical tests were applied.Results: Almost 125 (94%) students replaced mobile phones in last five years. Common reason for replacement was desire for newer technology by 33 (26.4%) students and need for greater functionality by 29 (23.2%). The old mobile phones were kept at home by 34 (27.2%) students, followed by dumped by 31 (24.8%), it was also noted that many students sold the mobile phones and only 8 (6.5%) were aware of the e–waste management policy.Conclusions: Most of the students replacing the mobile phones frequently but the level of awareness about the e-waste management were low, so need to increase the awareness among the users for implementation of the e waste management policy.