Electronic waste awareness among students of engineering department

Abstract

Purpose: Increased number of electronic equipment used as a result of technological developments in recent decades and their relatively short economic life has resulted in the addition of electronic waste (e-waste) concept in the environmental health issues. This study intended to evaluate the level of awareness on e-waste and environmental issues among engineering students, whose main line of work is technology.Materials and Methods: This is a cross sectional study conducted with first and final year students in the Departments of Food Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical-Electronic Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Computer Engineering in Adnan Menderes University in the academic year of 2016-2017. Results: No statistically significant difference was observed for students' awareness about environmental issues and e-waste regulations between departments and whether they are in the first or the last year. However, a correlation was noted between two awareness types.Conclusion: Students in this study were found to have low level of knowledge about e-waste recycling and regulations. There fore awareness of consumers about e-waste should be improved. Manufacturers and municipalities should be more active and involved in recycling, and stricter regulations should be implemented to reduce and manage e-waste.