Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices about of Electronic Waste Management at Nong Rong Subdistrict, Phanom Thuan District, Kanchanaburi Province

Abstract

The objectives of this article were to: 1) study the problems and obstacles of community electronic waste management; 2) study the levels of knowledge, attitudes, and practices about community electronic waste management; and 3) propose the promotion guidelines for electronic waste management in the community. This mixed methods research was conducted in Nong Rong Sub-district, Phanom Tuan District, Kanchanaburi Province. The sample group was made up of representatives from 400 households selected with cluster random sampling. Key informants were community leaders, officers from the Nong Rong-Sub-district Administrative Organization, and representatives of Nong Rong community members—9 people in total—who were selected with the purposive sampling method. Research tools included the questionnaire, semi-structured interview form, and fieldwork record form. Quantitative data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, and qualitative data were analyzed with content and descriptive analysis.

The research results revealed that there were three problems and obstacles to electronic waste management in the community: reduction of electronic waste in the community, reuse of electronic waste in the community, and recycling of the electronic waste in the community. Furthermore, the sample had high knowledge and attitude toward electronic waste management in the community. Meanwhile, they had a moderate practice of electronic waste management. In addition, three promotion guidelines for electronic waste management in the community were proposed: reduce electronic waste, reuse electronic waste, and recycle electronic waste.

Knowledge and findings from this research are the guidelines for behavior modification of community members on electronic waste management, and the information to determine the strategy and set the promotion plan for electronic waste in the community.