E-waste recycling behavior

Teh, Wai Quan (2025) E-waste recycling behavior. Final Year Project, UTAR.

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Abstract

E-waste is one of the fastest-growing waste streams worldwide, driven by the increasing numbers of electronic devices users. The proper practice to handle the e-waste is still underperformed by most of the underdeveloped countries and further implications need to be established. Past studies on the e-waste topic have mostly conducted based on the three mains propose of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), while other related psychological and contextual factors remain understudied. This research aims to provide a more diverse insight by incorporating elements from Habit Formation Theory (HFT) to further extend TPB. Variables from TPB (attitude, perceived behavioral control, and subjective norms), and HFT (perceived convenience, and habit) have been employed to examine the intention of e-waste recycling and actual recycling behavior. A survey has been designed and distributed to the targeted population of electronic devices users. Partial least square structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was employed to test the interrelation between five factors and the intention of e-waste recycling, and the impact of intention on the actual behavior. Outcome suggests that three of the five constructs were identified as the key indicators of intention, while intention also drives the e-waste recycling behavior. Through the PLS predict analysis, it reveals that the research model has significant predictive power to support the observed findings. The outcome of this research provides useful insight for policymakers and related parties in developing strategies to counter the rapid rising e-waste production. Keywords: E-waste, Psychological and Contextual Factors, Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), Habit Formation Theory (HFT), Recycling Intention, Actual Recycling Behavior, PLS-SEM

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