Intensity of Citizens’ Perception and Behavior Towards Electronic Waste Management (A Case Study, Qom city)

Background: The growing use of electrical and electronic equipment in recent decades has generated a noticeable volume of electronic waste (e-waste), posing a major global environmental challenge. Therefore, the current study investigated household electronic waste management behaviors among citizens of Qom province, Iran.Methods: The data for this cross-sectional analytical study were collected via a validated questionnaire from ۳۸۴ citizens visiting recycling centers in Qom. Subsequent analysis was performed using Excel and SPSS software.Results: The was found that only ۳۷% of the respondents perceived the severe environmental consequences of e-waste. In contrast, the majority (۹۳%) were aware of the direct economic benefits of recycling, while ۴۱% recognized the indirect economic benefits. Regarding management behaviors, repair and reuse were the most common strategies (reported by ۴۵% to ۹۴% of the respondents), whereas delivering waste to official recycling centers was the least common (less than ۵%)Conclusion: A lack of awareness regarding the environmental consequences of e-waste reduces its separation rate. Thus, decision-makers should incorporate the economic incentives that promote the sale and reuse of electronic equipment into e-waste management plans.

کلیدواژه ها:

E-waste ، Source separation ، Waste Management