Consumer Behavior in the Use and Disposal of Personal Electronics: a Case Study of University Students in Sri Lanka

Consumer behavior has a significant impact on determining the best approaches for achieving circular economy goals. In this study, young consumers’ behavior in personal electronic equipment usage and disposal was evaluated. In Sri Lanka, 96% of university students have laptop computers and 100% have mobile phones. Meanwhile, mobile phone availability is 1.37 per capita, which is a comparatively higher value according to global statistics. Average possession time, reasons for obsolescence of personal electronic equipment, and awareness of e-waste characteristics are in accordance with global trends. Consumers are aware of the hazardous nature of e-waste, but their awareness of e-waste management schemes available in the country is drastically low. Their participation in formal e-waste management is also low. Stockpiling of end of use personal electronics is common in Sri Lanka; 1.77 ± 1.88 mobile phones and 0.72 ± 0.97 laptop computers per capita are in hibernation, which is a higher value when compared to global levels. More than 75% of the sample declared that they store e-waste at home. Hence, the study emphasizes the importance of raising awareness of formal e-waste management routes among university students as well as the general public. However, it is noteworthy that consumers are concerned about the risk of information recovery from end-of-life personal electronics. As a result, if personal electronics recycling goals are to be met, data destruction must also be ensured.