Assessment of knowledge and awareness of the waste electrical and electronic equipment among the higher school students

Abstract

Introduction. The Waste Electric and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), e-waste – constitutes refuse that remarkably menaces the environment and human health. The increasing amount of e-waste is becoming a global threat, including the territory and the population of Poland. In this day and age, while observing the march of civilization, in every homestead there are several devices which, sooner or later, will get spoiled or will be trucked for unused ones. Undoubtedly, great amount of the equipment will be thrown on a scrap-heap, along with other communal garbage, or will be set aside in cellars with a persuasion: “they will come in handy”. In Poland, since the 21st of October, 2005 – the Act on the WEEE Management has been laying down laws and duties of all Polish citizens regarding the proper e-waste disposal. 

Aim. The aim of the study, conducted among students of the Higher School of Business Administration and Health Sciences (HSBAHS) in Lodz, was to evaluate the respondents’ knowledge and awareness of the e-waste management, and threats for the environment and human health that issued from unreflective e-waste disposal. 

Material and methods. The material encompassed empirical data gathered form 250 students of the HSBAHS in Lodz. The research method was based on an anonymous and previously validated questionnaire. 

Results. The respondents demonstrated a mediocre level of knowledge, considering the e‑waste management, and its influence on both environment, and human health. Students living in a rural area, in comparison with respondents stemming from an urban population, were better cognizant of particular bearings of the WEEE management, among the others, how they are obtained (80% vs. 70%), and how consumers utilize them at a later date (51% vs. 42%). However, not many surveyed individuals knew organizations that were engaged in the e-waste salvage (20% vs. 28%); only 37% vs. 30% were aware that producers of the electric and electronic equipment took an additional charge for its recycling. The respondents encountered difficulties in terms of fixing what e-waste quantity felt annually on a “statistical Pole”. Only 52% vs. 45% knew about local salvage points’ functioning. Merely 16% vs. 18% out of the respondents had cognizance of educational programmes devoted to the rational WEEE management. Likewise, their knowledge of legal regulations was on a low level. Unfortunately, the surveyed HSBAHS students threw their e-waste directly on the scrap-heap (39% vs. 30%). The surveyed students living in a rural area after having completed the questionnaire, declared deeper interest in the e-waste issues than their schoolmates representing towns (77% vs. 68%). 

Conclusions. The surveyed individuals’ knowledge and awareness of the subject-matter – considering the urban versus the rural area –is low, albeit the Act on the Waste Electric and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Management has been in force for about five years. Regrettably, Polish society, and the surveyed students alike – seldom segregate and deliver the waste electric and electronic equipment to the specialistic salvage points; on the opposite, one still meets with such a scheming when citizens throw their e-waste directly on the scrap-heap (in particular it bears on townspeople). The respondents know neither educational programmes they could participate in, nor legal premises in connection to the rational e-waste disposal. The observed low level of knowledge and awareness of the WEEE management among the students is liable to be altered by sound education, accomplished both among pupils, students, and adult society.