2nd International Conference on Electrical and Electronic Engineering (ICEEE), 27-29 December 2017, RUET, Rajshahi, Bangladesh

A survey on students’ awareness about e-waste in

Bangladesh
Md Nafize Sadik∗ , S.M. Nayeem Arefin† and Mehnaz Tabassum§
∗ Department of CSE, Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology, Rajshahi, Bangladesh
Email: sadik.ruet.bd@gmail.com
† Department of EEE, Independent University, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Email: nayeem.arefin007@gmail.com
§ Department of EEE, Atish Dipankar University of Science and Technology, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Email: mehnaztm@gmail.com

Abstract—E-waste management is related to recycle, reduce
and reuse of electric devices. Although there are no accurate
solutions for managing e-waste, almost all the countries in the
world have recognized this issue a growing problem and act ac-
cording to it. In Bangladesh, e-waste is increasing exponentially,
although e-waste management is not improved with the demand.
Therefore, a large amount of e-waste in the environment is a
great threat. A survey has been carried out among students from
3 different cities in Bangladesh to know about their readiness on
e-waste management and based on the survey, it has been assessed
that there are lots of awareness activities should be performed
in Bangladesh.
Index Terms—E-waste,e-waste awareness,e-waste management
I. I NTRODUCTION
Recently, due to advancement of technology, computers and
other electronic devices has been improved a lot in respect
of their size, weight, cost and performance. But life span
of them has not improved. Most of the computer devices
have an average lifespan of less than two years; moreover,
today it is always cheaper and more convenient to buy a
new machine than upgrading the existing unit.[1-5] And it
is cheaper to replace the existing devices than upgrading the
existing one because the devises are getting cheaper as the
performance is getting improved with the same price bracket.
Electronic waste(e-waste) or Waste Electronic and Electrical
equipment(WEEE) refer to discard electronic products. With-
out proper management and control on the disposal of e-
waste, most of these discarded electronic devices eventually
ends up at the landfill.[1-3] As commented by Hamilton
in her paper “There are 130,000 computers are trashed in
United States each day and these discarded stuffs mainly
go to landfill.”[2] United nation had warned that E-waste
problem at the developing countries like China, Africa and
India could be a double or even quadruple with the next
decade.[6] Electronic products have become obsolete and their
replacement has lead to increase in generation of electronic
waste (e-waste). And it is growing in an exponential rate and
yet there is no well-defined plan to face this problem.Apart
from these harmful materials some precious materials can be
found such as gold, silver and platinum.According to UN
related sources, about 320 tons of gold and 7.5 thousand tons
of silver are used every year in the production of electronic
equipment such as computers, tablets and cell phones.[7]So,
e-waste management has become important issue not only for
dumping them properly but also to recycle them for future use.
A. Global situation
Developed and industrial countries like United States
(US),EU and Japan recognized e-waste a growing problem
and tighten the regulatory framework against it. For instance,
Switzerland and Canada are adopting 3Rs initiative approach
in managing e-waste in their country.[10] They recycle e-
waste as resources for new products, usable parts or whole
item are reused and reduced the usage of toxic substances
like lead and mercury in producing electronic devices. [1] But
the consumption of electronic devices has increased drastically
and also the tendency of upgrading the devices with the
introduction of faster, better and more efficient devices. Based
on research of Japan Electronic and Information Technology
Association (JEITA), the average lifetime for a desktop PC is 3
to 5 years, while the Economic and Social Research Institute
of Japan reported that the average lifetime for a desktop is
4.3 years.[11] Due to costing and environmental issues most
developed countries export their e-waste to the African, Indian
and South East Asian region mainly for recycling although
these countries do not have facilities and skilled technicians
to manage these large number of e-waste. United States has
produced about 3 million tons of e-waste and up to 80 %
of this e-waste are “recycled” by exporting it to developing
countries like South Africa, China and South-East Asia. De-
spite having banned e-waste imports, the developing countries
like China still become the major dumping grounds for the
developed countries.[5] Unfortunately, the illegal transport of
waste from the industrialized world to developing countries
is an increasing problem, in particular when it comes to e-
waste.[12] Although it is not illegal to ship e-waste across
international borders, many countries who accept these goods
label them as “used goods” to be prepared for reuse or
refurbishment.[13] But in developing countries, problems have
not been recognized in many places and laws and precautions
about e-waste management has not been made or implemented

978-1-5386-3341-0/17/$31.00 2017
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 2nd International Conference on Electrical and Electronic Engineering (ICEEE), 27-29 December 2017, RUET, Rajshahi, Bangladesh

properly. For these reasons, unskilled laborers working in
different types of scrap yards in developing countries has been
in a risk of the exposure of hazardous chemicals which can
affect their body as well as the environment. Gui Yu, China
it is said to be the most polluted town in the world, due to
black market e-waste dump, the local water is undrinkable.
The miscarriage and premature birth are comparatively higher
than neighboring town. Research shows that, 70% of the town
children are having dangerous lead level in their blood.[5]
Our survey has been done in three regions in Bangladesh.
They are Dhaka city which is the capital of Bangladesh,
Rajshahi city which is the representative of a divisional city
and Chuadanga which is a representative of comparative rural
region in Bangladesh. However the data will help us to take
some decision about how we can make students aware of e-
waste dumping and their necessity. We obtained questionnaires
from 1055 students of class 10 to 12 and university first and
second year students among the age group of 16-22.

B. Bangladesh situation III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

Although under the department of Environment ,
Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act-2010 was
proposed to deal with e-waste management, ministry of Law
suggested them to be placed in a separate act.[8] At present,
Bangladesh government is very much concerned on the issue.
In Bangladesh, almost 2.7 million metric tons of e-waste
generated per year. And with the advancement of the usage
of electronic products the amount of producing e-waste in
increasing exponentially. The production of waste materials
has increased significantly in the last decades. A table shows
the production of e-waste from 1971-2010 in the interval of
ten years.[9]
A. Students’ awareness of the term e-waste
Figure 1 shows that almost 40% of students do not have any
idea and rest of the students have little to deliberate idea about
E-waste. It is quite alarming as almost half of the youth do not
even know about it at all. figure 2, we can see that those who
know about E Waste, almost 36% of them are not aware of
the hazardous effect of e-waste. But at least they know about
the effects. Still the number is quite high.

E-waste (ten years) Amount (In metric ton)

1971 3,36,15,120,497.06
1971-81 8,09,20800,1194.64
1991-2001 16,62,54,182,2357.43
2001-2010 22,91,95,469,3167.64
1981-91 10,03,09,667,1296.88
TABLE I
E- WASTE PRODUCED FROM 1971-2010

Among this amount, only 20 to 30 percent is recycled and

Fig. 1. Awareness of the term e-waste
the rest of the waste is released into landfills, rivers, drains
lakes, canals, open spaces which are very hazardous for the
health and environment. E-waste disposal mixed with solid
municipal waste is posing a greater threat for environmen-
tal degradation in the developing countries like Bangladesh,
where formal recycling technology is not available and non-
formal operators are extracting precious metals through crude
means for easy money. 15% of the total generated waste in
Dhaka ( mainly inorganic) which amounts 475 are recycled
daily. Within this amount of waste only 20-35% recycled and
rest laid on soil, rivers, ponds, drains, lake, canals and open
spaces. [9] Evidently, toxic e-waste is a pressing issue with
significant consequences unless it is managed and recycled
properly. [14]

II. O BJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The aim of this study is to identify the awareness of
the younger generation towards e-waste management. The
following are the objectives of this study.
1) To study the students’ awareness towards e-waste man-
agement.
2) To study the students’ experience in handling in e-waste.
Fig. 2. Awareness of the hazardous effect of e-waste
B. E-waste in education or study life
From figure, we can see that 62% have not found anything
in their study material about e-waste. From the other 38% who
have learnt E waste in their study life mostly learnt from their
books which is almost 57%. Others learnt from interactive
 2nd International Conference on Electrical and Electronic Engineering (ICEEE), 27-29 December 2017, RUET, Rajshahi, Bangladesh

lessons and practical sessions. And the rest 61% in fig -3 have
never learned about it. Which shows that they are not exposed
to thorough government or educational effort at all unlike the
other pollution like air, water or sound pollution. There is a
big scarcity of initiative to educate the youngsters about the
e-waste. And there is an alarming statistics regarding their
practical knowledge about handling the e-waste as only 13%
had practical sessions.

Fig. 5. Reason to get rid of old electronic devices

Almost 47% students keep their product in the store room

when they think it is not usable. And 34% of them repair these
and donate it to others while 20% dispose it with household
disposals.

Fig. 3. Whether students have learned about e-waste

Fig. 6. Students method of electronic devices disposal

There is an alarming rate of 80% who are not dumping

Fig. 4. How students have learned about e-waste
electronic waste properly. And thus the amount of not recycled
e-waste is getting higher every year, which is very alarming
and if the statistics do not change the country will face severe
consequences regarding environmental and health issues and
situation might get out of control.

C. Students’ experience in handling e-waste

Students think their electronic devices obsolete mostly when
these needs high cost to repair. Besides Malfunctioning of use
is the other reason why they replace their product, according
to figure.
Almost 47% students keep their product in the store room
when they think it is not usable. And 34% of them repair these
and donate it to others while 20% dispose it with household
disposals. These clearly shows that they are reluctant to take
some extra effort to handle and manage the e-waste. In spite
of knowing the consequences they actually do not feel the
necessity of taking extra initiative to act on it. Here is a big
reason is lack of management and lack of motivation from the
respective authorities and government. Fig. 7. Places students dump their e-waste
 2nd International Conference on Electrical and Electronic Engineering (ICEEE), 27-29 December 2017, RUET, Rajshahi, Bangladesh

Only 50% of students have eagerness to send e-waste for 6) Strict policy and guideline in consultation with relevant
dumping properly. It is because most of the students do not stakeholders should be developed about e-waste man-
have proper knowledge of dumping and its necessity. Proper agement.
campaigning and its dangers are not known by almost half 7) Efficient e-waste collection and tracking system should
of the total students. And as there is not any particular be established throughout the country.
management system from the government they cannot do the
R EFERENCES
proper recycling in spite of having willingness.
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[2] Anita Hamilton (2001),. How to Junk your Computer?.
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[3] CalRecycle: What is E-waste? http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/Electronics/whausewaste
[4] Toxic e-waste: Still more needs to be done
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[6] Urgent Need to Prepare Developing Countries for
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[7] Clio Gonalo Marques,Vasco Gestosa da Silva, E-Waste in Portugal -
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[8] Raina Tabassum Karim, Nazhad Bari, M. Ashraful Amin, E-waste Man-
Fig. 8. Students willingness to send obsolete electronic devices to send to agement in Bangladesh, 2nd International Conference on Green Energy
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V. S UGGESTION
1) Educational institutions should co-operate with the local
authorities for management of e-waste properly.
2) The producer’s responsibility should be extended so as
to render them responsible for finding effective ways
to reuse and recycle the components of electrical and
electronic goods of waste management companies and
use them in new products.
3) The production and consumption of 100% recycled
products, also known by green products, should be
encouraged, for instance through fiscal benefits.
4) Government should take measures to grow awareness
among people about the upcoming acute environmental
problem which can be created by poor management of
e-waste.
5) Newspapers, Electronic media and social media need
to come forward to maintain their role to raise public
awareness.