Determinants and logistics of e-waste recycling

• Date: 09 May 2016
• Published date: 09 May 2016
• Pages: 52-70
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJLM-02-2014-0021
• Author: Cigdem Gonul Kochan,Saba Pourreza,Huguette Tran,Victor R. Prybutok
• Subject Matter: Management science & operations,Logistics

Determinants and logistics of

e-waste recycling

Cigdem Gonul Kochan

The James F. Dicke College of Business Administration,

Ohio Northern University, Ada, Ohio, USA

Saba Pourreza and Huguette Tran

Department of Marketing and Logistics, University of North Texas,

Denton, Texas, USA, and

Victor R. Prybutok

Department of Information Technology and Decision Sciences,

University of North Texas, Denton, Texas, USA

Abstract

Purpose –The rapid consumption of new electronic devices has expanded the volume of electronic

waste (e-waste) and created a potential threat to the environment. Recycling of e-waste (eCycling) can

help stem the proliferation of e-waste and its environmental threat. In order to increase this positive

involvement in eCycling and design effective eCycling programs, a better understanding of eCycling

behaviors is needed. The purpose of this paper is to employ the Theory of Reasoned Action as a

framework to develop a model to identify the determinants of eCycling behavior.

Design/methodology/approach –To assess the model, a survey of 327 university students is

undertaken. To analyze the eCycling behavior from the survey data, a structural equation modeling

technique is used.

Findings –The findings suggest that: attitudes and moral norms positively influence eCycling

behavior; the higher the awareness of consequences, the more the eCycling involvement; and perceived

convenience is an important factor that leads to more involvement in eCycling.

Research limitations/implications –This research is limited by the student sample and campus

environment that might confine the generalizability of the study. Also, additional variables need to be

examined in order to better explain eCycling behavior. The result of the study provides insights for

organizations to build successful eCycling programs, engage young adults such as college students in

eCycling, and increase involvement in eCycling.

Practical implications –This study provides insights that can help supply chain managers to better

understand the consumer involvement in eCycling. Managers’understanding of eCycling behavior

would encourage eCycling involvement by placing drop-off units in convenient locations and by

creating campaigns that motivate consumers to return their e-waste. An increased consumer

involvement in eCycling can help manufacturing companies lower the cost of e-waste across the supply

chain and regain the value of returned materials by adopting reverse logistics.

Originality/value –This study contributes to the stream of eCycling literature by investigating

students’eCycling intentions and behaviors on a university campus. The paper develops an

understanding of how eCycling involvement might be improved.

Keywords Structural equation modeling, Consumer behaviour, Reverse logistics,

Theory of Reasoned Action, E-waste, E-waste recycling behaviour

Paper type Research paper

Introduction

In this information technology era, new communication products with user-friendly

features and high-performance capabilities are emergingrapidly. Incessant productionof

electronic devices feeds an insatiable consumer market. This burgeoning demand for

consumer electronics combined with the tendency to replace devices without recycling

The International Journal of

Logistics Management

Vol. 27 No. 1, 2016

pp. 52-70

©Emerald Group Publishing Limited

0957-4093

DOI 10.1108/IJLM-02-2014-0021

Received 17 February 2014

Revised 26 September 2014

Accepted 15 February 2015

The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:

www.emeraldinsight.com/0957-4093.htm

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IJLM

27,1

has created a new threat for humanity and theenvironment, electronic waste, or e-waste

(Nixon et al., 2009). Current literature uses the terms e-waste and waste electrical or

electronic equipment interchangeably which refer to the disposal of various forms of

electronic and electric equipment (Widmer et al.,2005).

Most of the electronic devices contain plastic and heavy metals such as arsenic,

cadmium, chromium, lead, and mercury which are potentially toxic to human and

environmental health (Molinari, 2011). For instance, the amount of cadmium from one

mobile phone battery is sufficient to pollute 600,000 liters of water (Nnorom et al., 2009).

Increasing stockpiles of e-waste impose a growing volume of toxic inputs to the local waste

stream. Therefore, if e-waste is not controlled by proper recycling, these toxic chemicals can

return to human bodies through air, food, and water contaminants that may result in

cancer, allergies, and other health problems (Cairns, 2005; Molinari, 2011; Nixon et al., 2009).

Additionally, e-waste consists of expensive substances such as copper, steel, gold,

iron, and trace amounts of exotic metals such as columbite-tantalite, often mined in

war-torn regions of Africa (Widmer et al., 2005). For example, an e-reader requires

79 gallons of water to produce its batteries and printed wiring boards, and refining

metals like the gold used in trace quantities in the circuits (Goleman and Norris, 2010).

In a recent study, EPA (2012) found that recycling one million laptops can save the

energy equivalent to the electricity used by more than 3,500 US homes in a year, and

recycling one million cell phones can recover 35 thousand pounds of copper,

772 pounds of silver, 75 pounds of gold, and 33 pounds of palladium. In addition to

such recycling measures, manufacturing companies can also contribute by lowering

the cost of e-waste across the supply chain and regaining the value of returned

materials by adopting reverse logistics.

Johnson (1998) defines reverse logistics as “the continuous logistic process through

which shippedproducts move from the consumer backto the producer for possible reuse,

recycling, remanufacturing or disposal”(Oom do Valle et al., 2009, p. 2). The reverse

logistics system clearly cannot work without the involvement of consumers since they

are the first link in the overall supply chain (Oom do Valle et al., 2009). However,

according to the US Environmental Protection Agency’s most recent report a bout

e-waste, many consumers are not recycling their electronics. The report states that in

2005, out of 1.9 to 2.2 million tonsof used or unwanted electronics including cell phones,

televisions,computers and accessories,about 1.5-1.8 million tons were primarily disposed

in landfills, and only 345,000-379,000 tons were recycled (EPA, 2008). Cairns (2005)

explains thepoor consumer involvement in eCyclingdue to consumers’lack of awareness

of the environmental consequences of e-waste and lack of knowledge about eCycling

options. If consumers are not recycling their e-waste, then when they upgrade their

electronic device, what happens to the old one? The answer can have serious effects on

human and environmental health. Reducing e-waste and its potential threat to humanity

and the environment require a better understanding of consumer behavior with e-waste.

Therefore,this paper investigates the determinants of eCyclingbehavior using university

students as the subject population. We consider university students a specializedbut an

important group of consumers. University students potentially respond differently from

nonstudent consumers for several reasons (Peterson, 2001). First, “students are

‘unfinished’personalities”(Carlson, 1971, p. 212). Therefore, students may differ from

nonstudents on a number of specific psychological and/or behavioral dimensions. This

assumes that nonstudents are defined as individuals who are older and have more life

experiences than students. However, today’s students are changing and we increasingly

see nontraditional older students in metropolitan universities such as the one in which

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E-waste

recycling