E-waste recycling behaviour: An integration of recycling habits into the theory of planned behaviour

This study examines the determinants of e-waste recycling intention among young consumers in an emerging economy context by integrating habits into a prominent model that predicts people's behav-iour, namely, the theory of planned behaviour. Young consumers contribute significantly to the outgrowth of e-waste problem as front-runners in the consumption, generation and management processes. Survey data have been analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLSSEM) approach as a multivariate statistical method. The findings show that the integrated model can explain more than 47 per cent of the variance in the young consumers' e-waste recycling intention which reflects good explanatory power and confirms its robustness. The role of recycling habits and perceived attitudes are demonstrated as strong predictors of young adults' e-waste recycling intention. Surprisingly, constructs of the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) involving subjective norms and behavioural control show no significant influence on the e-waste recycling intention of young consumers. Building on these findings, e-waste recycling programs should first target attitudes and create specific cues that trigger habits. The paper also concludes with several social and practical implications that can foster e waste recycling policies. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study found that recycling habits and perceived attitudes are strong predictors of young consumers' e-waste recycling intention in an emerging economy context. Contrary to expectations, constructs involving subjective norms and behavioral control in the theory of planned behavior have no significant influence on young consumers' e-waste recycling intention.