Development of an analytical method for quantitative comparison of the e-waste management systems in Thailand, Laos, and China. Issue 11 (November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liang, Li; Sharp, Alice
• Is Part Of: Waste management & research. Volume 34:Issue 11(2016:Nov.)
• Page Start: 1184
• Page End: 1191
• Publication Date: 2016-11
• Subjects: E-waste management system -- quantitative method -- policy–process–practice analysis -- questionnaire survey -- Thailand -- Laos -- China; Factory and trade waste -- Periodicals; Refuse and refuse disposal -- Periodicals; Municipal engineering -- Periodicals; Déchets industriels -- Périodiques; Déchets -- Élimination -- Périodiques; Génie urbain -- Périodiques; 628
• DOI: 10.1177/0734242X16662333
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0734-242X

Abstract

This study employed a set of quantitative criteria to analyse the three parameters; namely policy, process, and practice; of the respective e-waste management systems adopted in Thailand, Laos, and China. Questionnaire surveys were conducted to determine the current status of the three parameters in relation to mobile phones. A total of five, three, and six variables under Policy (P1 ), Process (P2 ), and Practice (P3 ), respectively, were analysed and their weighted averages were calculated. The results showed that among the three countries surveyed, significant differences at p <0.01 were observed in all the P1, P2, and P3 variables, except P305 (sending e-waste to recovery centres) and P306 (treating e-waste by retailers themselves). Based on the quantitative method developed in this study, Laos' e-waste management system received the highest scores in both P1 average (0.130) and P3 average (0.129). However, in the combined Ptotal, China scored the highest (0.141), followed by Laos (0.132) and Thailand (0.121). This method could be used to assist decision makers in performing quantitative analysis of complex issues associating with e-waste management in a country.