The Challenges of E-Waste Management at Public Universities in Malaysia: From the Lenses of University Students
Abstract
E-waste, or electronic waste, is a rapidly growing environmental concern globally, and its management is crucial for sustainability. Public universities, as significant generators of e-waste, bear a pivotal role in addressing this issue. Besides the increasing usage of electronic equipment at universities, the ways in which e-waste is handled and disposed of still require improvement. Moreover, efficient e-waste handling and management is the biggest challenge for universities. This paper examines the extent of e-waste management practices among public university students, besides investigating the critical challenges constraining e-waste management within these institutions, from the perspectives of the students. Utilizing a survey-based approach, data were collected from students across selected public universities to assess their current e-waste management practices and their perception of the challenges that constrain the effectiveness of e-waste management at universities. With the use of the Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS), 241 survey responses in total were analyzed. Regarding the extent of e-waste handling and practices among students, the results showed that most respondents keep their malfunctioning electronic equipment in any storage space at home rather than dispose of it properly. In addition, the results from the survey depicted that the most critical challenge constraining e-waste management practices in public universities in Malaysia is knowledge, followed by education and training. This study suggests that universities need to enhance their e-waste management strategies by implementing more robust policies, increasing awareness and education efforts, and fostering greater student involvement. The paper gives an outline of the state of e-waste management practices today and offers practical advice for enhancing sustainability initiatives in Malaysian public universities.
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