Assessing Public Attitudes Towards E-Waste Recycling: Case Study of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Abstract
-waste refers to those electrical and electronic appliances that are still in use, then degraded and ready to be disposed of by consumers. Malaysia is not excluded from facing this global environmental issue. Hence, this cross-sectional study was conducted among 936 respondents in the residential area (door-to-door) as well as public spaces such as shopping malls and recreational areas to determine the attitude of the public in Kuala Lumpur towards the E-waste recycling activity. Using this cross-sectional approach, the respondents are chosen by ensuring they fit the inclusion criteria – 18 years old and above, Malaysian, living in Kuala Lumpur, and willing to participate. It is considered a large sample size where a larger sample size provides more power. Based on the findings, the study underlined a significant p-value between gender and occupation with the level of attitude towards E-waste recycling as reported at 0.005 and 0.008, respectively. It was also identified that female respondents and those working in the private sector are among the respondents with a good attitude. According to the results, respondents with other demographic backgrounds require room for improvement to ensure the public can manage this environmental issue at every level. These findings offer information on the current attitude towards E-waste recycling among the general population in Kuala Lumpur. Where it will facilitate the national goal of sustainable waste management, aligning with the Twelfth Malaysia Plan (2021-2025), Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2030, and Net Zero by 2050.
Keywords: Attitude; E-waste; environmental issue; Kuala Lumpur; public
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