Abstract:
E-waste contains hazardous chemicals and materials that threaten the environment
and human health, when improperly disposed. This study examined levels of
awareness of e-waste disposal among university students in Ghana, and their
proenvironmental decision-making using two outcome variables: knowledge on
environmental impact and policy issues (EIPI) and environmental behavior and
sustainability (EBS). Reliability estimates (Cronbach’s alpha) for the two outcomes
variables were 0.91 and 0.72, respectively. Exploratory and confirmatory factor
analyses were used to explore and determine the underlying factor structure for
the latent constructs employed as dependent variables; and to verify the factor
structure while testing the relationships between observed indicators and their
underlying latent constructs. Ordinary Least Square techniques were then used to
examine the effects of theoretically relevant covariates on the selected dependent
variables. Results indicate satisfactory model adequacy, (χ2 = 33.59, df = 29; p <
0.255; RMSEA = 0.01). Awareness of e-waste among the students was generally low.
Students’ awareness of e-waste contamination of air and soil (effects) was higher
than their awareness of acceptable e-waste practices (change strategies) or
environmental policy (vision). Gender and level of study were both positively
related to environmental behavior and sustainability (EBS). Compared to females,
males scored higher (b = 0.192) on EBS. Students in the lower levels of their
university education scored higher (b = 0.256) on EBS, compared to those in upper years of university. Also, students in the lower levels of university scored
higher on knowledge of environmental impact and policy (b = .0175), compared
to those in upper years of university
