E-waste collection channels and household recycling behaviors in Taizhou of China

This paper investigates the collection channels of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE or e-waste) and household recycling behaviors in Taizhou city of China. Taking a questionnaire survey as the main approach, it explores the household generation of eighteen types of e-wastes and analyses the distribution of six disposal alternatives. Besides, it also assesses the determinants of choosing collection channels and evaluates households' attitudes in voluntary return of e-waste. The study found that informal collection is the primary disposal channel of urban household e-waste. A considerable proportion of the obsolete appliances are stored at home, given to others, or discarded, but the amount of e-waste flowing to formal collectors remains small. Compared with formal counterparts, informal collectors are advantageous in the aspects of collection scope, convenience of service, flexibility, and accessibility. An integrated collection system which includes the informal collectors and effective incentive schemes should be designed to fit with the characteristics of Chinese household disposal habits and the socioeconomic conditions.