ANALYSIS OF HOUSEHOLD'S E-WASTE MANAGEMENT BEHAVIOUR IN TRINCOMALEE DISTRICT

Abstract

This study aimed to examine household effective e-waste management behaviour in the Trincomalee District of Sri Lanka. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 200 households using a structured questionnaire. The conceptual framework integrated the theory of planned behaviour and behavioral reasoning theory to investigate the relationships between e-waste attitudes, reasons for and against e-waste management, intentions, and management behaviour. This study aimed to examine household e-waste management behaviour and potential for effective e-waste management in the Trincomalee District of Sri Lanka. Households exhibited . high levels of e-waste awareness but engaged in suboptimal disposal practices, such as throwing small e-waste in the garbage and selling larger items to scrap dealers. E-waste reasons for behaviour positively influenced attitudes (B : 0.862, p < 0.001) and intentions towards e-waste management (P : 0.813, p < 0.001). The findings highlight the need for a multi-faceted approach to e-waste management, addressing psychological and structural barriers. Practical implications include establishing formal collection and recycling infrastructure, implementing extended producer responsibility programs, and promoting repair and refurbishment initiatives. The study contributes to the growing body of research on sustainable e-waste management in developing countries. The study's limitations include its small sample size, cross-sectional design, and reliance on self-reported data. Future research should employ longitudinal and experimental designs, integrate insights from multiple disciplines, and evaluate interventions to promote sustainable e-waste management.