Abstract

In recent years the world has seen unending economic and technological development which has resulted in the generation of enormous quantities of electronic waste (e-waste). Consequently, e-waste has become both a global and a local challenge due to the huge amounts of e-waste being generated yearly and the existence of both harmful and valuable materials contained in e-waste. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reported that around 44 million tons of e-waste will move into Australia’s e-waste stream by 2035. As the quantities of e-waste generated in Australia are intensifying, local governments particularly those in the regions are concerned about how to safely dispose of e-waste across Australia and at the same time, recover valuable resources. Although the Australian government is attempting to collect and dispose of e-waste through various policies and schemes, e-waste is still being diverted to landfills. Presently, the amount of e-waste recycled is less than 40% and the rest ends up in landfills. This study investigates the e-waste management practices and consumer disposal behaviour of a local government in Queensland. The study identifies the issues faced by the local government in managing e-waste, explores consumers’ willingness/intensions to participate in e-waste recycling and suggests several strategies and recommendations for improving e-waste management practices.  To achieve this goal, “valence theory” (VT) and “norm activation theory” (NAT) is adopted as the theoretical foundation for studying the e-waste management practices and consumer behaviour of a local government in Queensland. This study adopts these theories based on their rational and moral considerations in shaping willingness and intentions to recycle. A quantitative research approach based on an online survey questionnaire is used for collecting the required data. The study will provide insights on the e-waste management practices of the local government; willingness/intensions of consumers to participate in e-waste recycling and identifies areas where improvement is needed. Practically, this study suggests several recommendations for assisting local governments in Australia better manage e-waste to lessen the considerable, environmental and health problems created due to inappropriate recycling and disposal practices in the communities.