The Legal and the Reasonable: Exploring the Dynamics of E-waste Disposal Strategies in Ghanaian Households

Abstract

The increasing demand for consumer electrical and electronic equipment in recent years in the absence of any official channel, policy or regulation for the safe disposal of their end-of-life products has created a new environmental challenge: electronic waste (e-waste) whose improper disposal can create both health and environmental hazards. This study analyses how households in Accra dispose of their electronic waste using data collected between February 5 and April 23, 2010. The significance of the study relates to the fact that it is the first of its kind in the country. The results show that the majority of households typically store their used electronic products for perceived value while the least disposal option among households is selling to peddlers. Using the multinomial logit regression model, the study indicates that though drop-off as a disposal strategy is unknown, it has a high potential for becoming a major disposal channel if it is implemented without any cost to beneficiaries. The study further shows that selling of e-waste to peddlers has a recent history but shows great potential and acceptability among households. To ensure the enactment of the appropriate policy framework, the study calls for an in-depth understanding of the existing informal collection system for possible integration into any formal regulating system