With rapid advancements in technology the evolution and demand for electronic/electric devices have drastically increased. The exponential increase in the use of technology, to meet the needs of the fast paced information era, has led to electronic and electrical devices being discarded, or disposed of, at a quicker rate than in the past. This has resulted in the fastest growing form of solid waste, called e-waste. E-waste is categorized as hazardous waste and can be harmful to the environment and health if not disposed of in a responsible manner. The emphasis is therefore to look at alternatives, such as reusing, refurbishing, or recycling, in order to minimise the disposal of this toxic waste form into landfill sites. This exploratory study concentrated on Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality (MMM) South Africa and revealed that e-waste management practices are a concern in this metropolitan area. The level of e-waste awareness and practices show that initiatives in MMM need to be expedited in order to adhere to e-waste best practices that have been implemented nationally and internationally.

With rapid advancements in technology the evolution and demand for electronic/electric devices have drastically increased. The exponential increase in the use of technology, to meet the needs of the fast paced information era, has led to electronic and electrical devices being discarded, or dispo...