E-waste disposal behaviors of urban consumers in China: An individualized approach to a holistic TPB perspective

Abstract

Urban consumers' disposal behaviors guide the orientation and success of electronic waste management programs. The post-pandemic era has seen a surge in the utilization of electronic gadgets and devices, leading to an exponential rise in global e-waste. This research investigates the parallel effects of disposal attitude, perceived behavioral control, and subjective norm, and the individual determinants for these three core constructs of the theory of planned behavior among the e-waste behaviors of Chinese urban consumers. This framework, employing a PLS-SEM technique for the carefully chosen sample obtained from the recycling/disposal stations (N = 851) is further utilized to extend the boundaries of e-waste disposal literature by integrating vital constructs of disposal habits, awareness of consequences, and green product availability. Results demonstrate a stronger influence of subjective norms on e-waste behaviors, while recycling cost and inconvenience appear to be the major determinants for the perceived behavioral control, in addition to the more appreciable influence of environmental awareness and information publicity on the subjective norms in comparison to the recycling attitude. The study concludes with promising implications for both theory and practice.