Title: Electronic waste generation level and characteristics in the City of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Authors: Abenezer Wakuma Kitila; Solomon Mulugeta Woldemikael

Addresses: Department of Urban Planning, Haramaya University, P.O. Box 138, Ethiopia ' Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia

Abstract: This study examined the e-waste generation level and characteristics in the city of Addis Ababa the case of households, educational institutions, and government sector offices. The findings revealed that the households have generated substantial number of e-waste (non-functional = 4,010, obsolete = 2,077, and broken = 1,856). Similarly, the educational institutions and government sector offices generated about 11,153 non-functional, 15,911 obsolete, and 11,360 broken e-waste. The study found that household income has significantly affected the e-waste generation level while the family size, gender, and education level were insignificant. It appears that the changes in the lifestyle escorted by scale economies, a switch to modern technology, and rapid obsolescence rate considerably encourages the recurring purchase of electronic equipment. The study has identified electronic equipment with a longer and shorter lifespan. The prolonged storing of e-waste is caused by lack of e-waste policy, absence of proper management methods, and the absence of recycling centres in the city.

Keywords: disposal; e-waste; electronic equipment; e-waste generation; obsolete; recycling; Addis Ababa; households; educational institutions; Ethiopia.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEE.2019.102382

International Journal of Environmental Engineering, 2019 Vol.10 No.2, pp.130 - 156

Received: 25 Dec 2018
Accepted: 04 Jun 2019
Published online: 23 Sep 2019 *

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