Abstract

Electrical and electronic waste (e-waste) is one of the fastest-growing and most hazardous waste streams globally. Despite efforts to improve global e-waste management, 77.7 percent of e-waste remains improperly disposed of, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where environmental and health risks are greatest (Baldé et al., 2024). This study evaluates whether national socioeconomic, cultural, and governmental characteristics can predict three key e-waste outcomes: generation per capita, formal collection rates, and resulting burden per capita. Using data from 2015-2022 for 127 countries, we applied mixed effects models incorporating variables such as GDP, Human Development Index, institutional integrity, financial openness, and well-being indicators. E-waste generation rose steadily with affluence, while formal collection was more strongly influenced by governance quality, institutional trust, and regulatory capacity. Contrary to the environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis (Marques et al., 2018), burden did not peak only in middle-income countries, but instead reflected gaps between rising consumption and insufficient collection infrastructure. These findings suggest that economic growth alone is not sufficient to address e-waste challenges. Stronger institutions and targeted policy reforms are needed to reduce uncollected waste and associated environmental risks.

Degree

College and Department

Life Sciences; Plant and Wildlife Sciences

Rights

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