The Determinants of Consumers’ E-Waste Recycling Behavior through the Lens of Extended Theory of Planned Behavior

Nur Shafeera Mohamad, Ai Chin Thoo and Hon Tat Huam
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Nur Shafeera Mohamad: Azman Hashim International Business School, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai 81310, Malaysia
Ai Chin Thoo: Azman Hashim International Business School, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai 81310, Malaysia
Hon Tat Huam: Putra Business School, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 15, 1-27

Abstract: Cutting-edge technological advancements have turned many electronic devices into waste within a short time of usage. Electronic waste (e-waste) has become a global problem. Due to the adverse impact of e-waste on the environment and human health, a regulatory system for effective collection and treatment of e-waste disposed of by the community and business sectors is in dire need. In an attempt to address the setbacks and cope with e-waste issues, this study determined factors that influence e-waste recycling intentions (ERIs) and e-waste recycling behavior (ERB) among consumers in Malaysia through the lens of an extended theory of planned behavior (TPB) model. Via an online survey, 159 questionnaires were collected from targeted respondents in Malaysia aged 18 years and above identified using the purposive sampling method. The structural equation modeling (SEM) approach was deployed for data analysis. As a result, moral obligation (MO) emerged as the most significant factor toward ERI, followed by perceived convenience (PC). Next, ERI displayed a significant effect on ERB. The multi-group analysis (MGA) outcomes revealed significant group differences in education variables, signifying that the lower/middle education group was more easily influenced to perform ERB than the higher education group. Essentially, this study contributes to many aspects especially in enhancing the awareness of e-waste issues and emphasizing the broad knowledge about e-waste recycling. This study provides practical implications for the government, the policymakers and all stakeholders, including consumers, non-government agencies, collectors, retailers, and recycling facilities. The study outcomes may be considered when formulating laws and regulations to enhance e-waste recycling efforts that guarantee a sustainable ecosystem in the future.

Keywords: electronic waste (e-waste); theory of planned behavior (TPB); e-waste recycling behavior (ERB); awareness of environmental consequences (AEC); perceived convenience (PC); moral obligation (MO) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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