Towards reducing electronic waste: Exploring environmental professionals' perceptions on the Sharing Economy in South Africa

Abstract

The United Nations Global E-waste Monitoring Report (2020) reveals that global e-waste production in 2019 reached 53.6 million tonnes, with South Africa contributing approximately 360 000 tonnes. A lack of legislation in South Africa concerning e-waste management significantly exacerbates this issue. Possible solutions towards reducing e-waste that are frequently cited in literature include the implementation of the Circular Economy, giveback and buy-back initiatives, and extended producer responsibility schemes. However, the Sharing Economy remains underexplored as a strategy for managing various waste streams, including e-waste, especially in South Africa. This research aims to investigate environmental professionals' perceptions of the Sharing Economy in South Africa as a means of reducing electronic waste. Employing a qualitative methodology, this study utilises a survey questionnaire with closed- and open-ended questions. The survey was completed by 103 environmental professionals. While closed-ended questions were measured by means of a Likert-scale, responses to open-ended questions were thematically analysed. Findings generally indicate a willingness among participants to engage in the Sharing Economy to mitigate e-waste generation. However, concerns were raised regarding safety, hygiene, crime, and legislative aspects. Open-ended responses offered insights into the opportunities and challenges of this model for e-waste management, revealing notable alternative measures, including give-back/guy-back initiatives and a call for increased legislative action. Recommendations by participants endorse increased legislative engagement, a transition from the Circular Economy to the integration of the Sharing Economy model, and heightened awareness of the potential benefits that the Sharing Economy could bring to the waste management sector in South Africa.