Title: Analysis of household preferences on waste electrical and electronic equipment management

Authors: Rafia Afroz; Rulia Akhtar; Muhammad Mehedi Masud; Jarita Bt. Duasa

Addresses: Department of Economics, Faculty of Economics and Management Science, International Islamic University Malaysia, 50728 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia ' Department of Economics, Faculty of Economics and Management Science, International Islamic University Malaysia, 50728 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia ' Faculty of Economics and Administration, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia ' Department of Economics, Faculty of Economics and Management Science, International Islamic University Malaysia, 50728 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Abstract: The management of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) has become an environmental concern in Malaysia due to its rapid growth. To address this issue, we tried to investigate the relationship between household's willingness to pay (WTP) and WEEE management system in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. In order to quantify household's WTP for improved WEEE management system, we employed a contingent valuation method (CVM). The household's WTP was then elicited through a series of face-to-face interviews of residents in 350 randomly selected households. The results showed that 73.52% of the households were willing to pay. The mean WTP was RM 23.47 ($8.09) per household monthly fee. In order to establish the relationship between endogenous variables and household's WTP, a logistic regression model was constructed. It was found that education level, age and household income significantly affected households' WTP for improving WEEE management system in Kuala Lumpur.

Keywords: waste management; willingness to pay; WTP; contingent valuation method; CVM; Malaysia; household preferences; waste electrical and electronic equipment; WEEE management; education levels; age; household income.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESD.2015.068572

International Journal of Environment and Sustainable Development, 2015 Vol.14 No.2, pp.116 - 131

Received: 05 Apr 2013
Accepted: 26 Feb 2014

Published online: 09 May 2015 *

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