Ecological Intelligence and E-waste Recycling Behavioural Intentions: A Gendered Perspective

Abstract

Responsibilities related to e-waste recycling in households vary widely depending on cultural norms, family dynamics, and individual preferences. The involvement of women in these roles is an essential part of promoting responsible e-waste management practices at the grassroots level. This research investigates the antecedents of women’s e-waste recycling behaviour intentions, which includes ecological intelligence, awareness and knowledge of the environment, convenience and cost of recycling, and norms and publicity. For this purpose, data were collected using a survey questionnaire from 420 women residing in the Klang Valley region in Malaysia. Extending the Theory of Planned Behaviour by including ecological intelligence, partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was used to analyse the factors affecting women’s e-waste recycling behavioural intentions. The results showed that the primary factors were environmental awareness, attitude towards recycling, convenience, ecological intelligence, and norms & publicity. Policies that enhance women’s environmental knowledge and emphasise convenience in the entire e-waste management system encourage greater women’s participation in e-waste recycling. Women-centric environmental policies potentially get the women to influence others to engage in recycling e-waste actively.