Prof. Nikunj Kumar Jain’s co-authored research paper entitled ‘Making the Invisible Count: Factors Influencing Small E-waste Recycling Intentions in the Age of Rapid Electronics Consumption’ has been published in the Wiley International Social Science Journal. His co-authors are Prof. Som Sekhar Bhattacharyya, Professor at the Indian Institute of Management Nagpur, India, and Mr. Abhishek Gawande, PhD Scholar in the Strategy & Entrepreneurship area at the Indian Institute of Management Nagpur, India.
The extent of electronic waste (e-waste) is exponentially growing as the lifetime usage of electrical and electronic devices is becoming shorter. In particular, small electrical and electronic items waste (small e-waste) like batteries, cables, mobile phones, and chargers constitute over 40% of global e-waste production. Yet, less than 20% of it is recycled, leading to significant environmental and health hazards.
To investigate the phenomenon, the current study extends the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to empirically test the Indian residents’ attitudes, intentions, and behaviors, along with the extrinsic factors such as producers’ and government’s intervention towards recycling small e-waste. The main findings highlight that attitude, subjective norms, producer’s intervention, and perceived data security significantly influence residents’ intention to recycle small e-waste.
The study underscores the critical need for tailored strategies to address the unique challenges posed by small e-waste, including its invisible nature, stockpiling habits, data security concerns, and improper disposal practices.