ANALYZING THE IMPACT OF KNOWLEDGE AND CULTURAL FACTORS ON E-WASTE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN INDIA – AN APPROACH TOWARDS SUSTAINABILITY

With the technological advancement and changes in the working and lifestyles of people and industry, the rate of obsolesce of electrical and electronic equipment and gadgets, particularly computers and mobile phones, is high, posing a threat to health and environment creating a threat to sustainability for nations around the globe. Realizing the difficulties of e-waste management, many developed countries have started dumping the e-waste to developing nations that suffer from resources constraints, thus leading to hazardous activities mainly in the informal sector. Therefore, we are motivated to examine whether the awareness of the environment, attitudes, and beliefs, particularly knowledge (constructs), impact practices relating to management of e-waste in India. Analysis of the results of our survey of 180 respondents through SEM model show an insignificant association of these constructs with e-waste management practices. However, we find a significant mediating role of Environmental Knowledge in all these relationships.