Fostering sustainability: Enhancing electronic waste management awareness in Penang

Abstract

The growing problem of electronic waste (e-waste) is a well-known global issue. This study aims to identify the factors that influence awareness of e-waste management among the Penang community in Malaysia, with a specific focus on sustainability. The primary objective is to investigate the Penang community’s understanding and attitudes towards e-waste management for a sustainable future. Six independent variables were examined: awareness, knowledge, attitude, government influence, moral obligation, and subjective norm. A survey questionnaire was distributed to 384 respondents in Penang. The findings revealed that attitude, government influence, moral obligation, and subjective norms significantly predict the Penang community’s e-waste management awareness towards sustainability. Surprisingly, awareness and knowledge, as components of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), did not significantly impact sustainability-focused e-waste management awareness. In conclusion, e-waste recycling initiatives should prioritize enhancing knowledge and creating specific cues to encourage habitual recycling behavior. This study also highlights practical and social implications for improving e-waste recycling policies.