Exploring influencing factors of WEEE social recycling behavior: A Chinese perspective

Recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) reduces the waste of resources, environmental pollution, and human health risks. WEEE recycling involves multiple stakeholders and a complex array of interacting factors that influence the behavior of those stakeholders. Identifying the key influencing factors for these stakeholders helps in the effective development of the WEEE recycling industry. Most previous research has only considered the perspective of consumers, however, this study considered the influencing factors for four key stakeholders: manufacturers, consumers, recyclers and disposers, and the government. The Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) model was used to determine the main factors affecting the typical social recycling behaviors in China. The results show that the most critical influential factor is the government policies that promote WEEE recycling (incentive), whereas the most important centrality factor is the producers that take responsibility for recycling. The disclosure of the environmental product information by manufacturers is the least important influencing factor in the system, which is contrary to conventional understanding. Although the government plays a powerful role, the production, recycling, and processing companies constitute central links in the entire WEEE recycling industry and are therefore important. These results are helpful in formulating relevant policies and affecting the behavior of relevant stakeholders.

Automated summary

Recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) effectively reduces resource wastage and environmental pollution. Research in China highlights the crucial role of government policies and manufacturer responsibility in influencing social recycling behaviors. This insight can guide policy-making and shape stakeholder behavior in the WEEE recycling industry.