Abstract:

This literature research paper focuses on human factors related to electronic waste (e-waste). From an analysis of the two last decades of academic literature on e-waste, a list of variables emerges as a convenient way to identify concerns and topics judged relevant, namely: awareness, attitudes and behaviors, incentives and deterrents, and mobile phone disposal motives. From this first global panorama of research conducted in 17 countries, the authors suggest paying more specific attention to the factors leading to the intention to dispose of mobile phones in respect of the environment and propose a predictive framework to better understand the process. The framework is based on the theory of planned behavior and augmented by background factors, namely culture, since the situation is different in each country. This study is the first step in a wider research endeavor that will include an empirical validation of the framework for a better understanding of the forces engaged in the context of mobile phone disposal, which is, at least in universities, a major aspect of e-waste.