Demonstrating the effects of behavioral control beliefs on the actual WEEE discharge routes: A case study in South Korea

Abstract

Since 2008, South Korea has operated the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system, which collects and recycles waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). Although the EPR recycled 305,050 tons of WEEE in 2017, approximately 62.5% remained in the informal sector, posing potential risks to the environment. This study is intended to provide information on consumer behavior regarding the discharge of WEEE and to analyze the causality between consumer beliefs and behavior, using the theory of planned behavior (TPB) model to establish strategies for maximizing the flow of WEEE through the formal sector. In accordance with the methodology, questionnaire data were collected from 2,000 respondents, who were selected through a stratified procedure, using computer-assisted telephone interviews to investigate their behavior related to the discharge of WEEE. According to the results, about 31.50% of the respondents had disposed of WEEE in 2017, and the most frequently discarded item was a refrigerator (35.08%). Local authorities (38.95%) and take back (37.30%) were the preferred means of discarding large- and mid-sized appliances. According to the TPB analysis, norm and control beliefs for discarding WEEE through the formal sector significantly affected behavioral intention (p <= 0.001). Furthermore, controlbeliefs directly affected actual discharge behavior (B = 1.351, p <= 0.001)and actual discharge routes (B = 0.846, p <= 0.05). These results indicate that the TPB can provide political strategies for discarding WEEE through the formal sector based on the causality between consumer beliefs and actual consumer behavior.