Harithas Aruchchunan
PhD, University of Jaffna,Sri Lanka
Title: E-waste:An emerging threat to Northern province Sri Lanka
Biography
Biography: Harithas Aruchchunan
Abstract
During the last few decades the electrical and electronics industry has experienced an enormous growth in Sri Lanka. It has been unprecedented in Northern province in post war context and COVID19 pandemic scenarios. The objective of this research was to assess present status of e -waste management among households and other stakeholders in urban and peri urban areas in the Northern province. The study used descriptive survey design. This research has tried to understand the existing gap, by identifying the different barriers to and drivers for the adoption of e-waste management measures through the perceptions of the different stakeholders involved in e -waste issues. This research investigated awareness level of e-waste in Northern province. The total sample of households and other stakeholders (repairers, waste collectors etc) in the all 5 districts were 66 and 55 respectively. Data collected through the digital questionnaires (Kobotoolbox and Google forms), key informant interviews and observations. The findings of the study revealed that households’ respondents were having good understanding on meaning of e-waste than other stakeholders. Most of the e-waste handed over to local government bodies and sold as trash to mobile waste collectors.