Determinants of Sustainable E-Waste Disposal Behaviour among Malaysian Consumers: An Extended Theory of Planned Behaviour Approach

The accelerated consumption of electrical and electronic equipment has resulted in a significant increase in electronic waste (e-waste), creating substantial environmental and public health challenges globally. In Malaysia, although formal e-waste management systems and regulations are in place, consumer participation in sustainable e-waste disposal remains relatively low. This study aims to investigate the determinants of sustainable e-waste disposal behaviour among Malaysian consumers by employing an extended Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) framework. In addition to the core TPB constructs, attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioural control, this study incorporates environmental knowledge, environmental concern, and government policy support to enhance the explanatory power of the model. A quantitative, cross-sectional survey was conducted among Malaysian consumers, and the data were analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). The findings are expected to provide empirical insights into the psychological and contextual factors influencing sustainable e-waste disposal behaviour, offering valuable implications for policymakers, environmental agencies, and practitioners in strengthening Malaysia’s e-waste management initiatives.

Electronic waste, sustainable disposal, theory of planned behaviour, environmental concern, Malaysia

1. Aboelmaged, M. (2021). E-waste recycling behaviour: An integration of recycling habits into the theory of planned behaviour. Journal of Cleaner Production, 278, 124182. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.124182 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Ajzen, I. (1991). The theory of planned behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 50(2), 179–211. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Armitage, C. J., & Conner, M. (2001). Efficacy of the theory of planned behaviour: A meta-analytic review. British Journal of Social Psychology, 40(4), 471–499. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Bamberg, S. (2003). How does environmental concern influence specific environmentally related behaviors? Journal of Environmental Psychology, 23, 21–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0272-4944(02)00091-0 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Bamberg, S., & Möser, G. (2007). Twenty years after Hines, Hungerford, and Tomera: A new meta-analysis of psycho-social determinants of pro-environmental behaviour. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 27, 14–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2006.12.002 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Bolderdijk, J. W., Lehman, P. K., & Steg, L. (2013). Normative messages and environmental behavior: An integrated framework. Journal of Consumer Policy, 36, 153–166. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10603-013-9226-4 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Corsini, A., Laurenti, R., Meinherz, F., Appio, F. P., & Mora, L. (2019). The role of consumer behaviour in circular economy: A systematic review. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 146, 427–442. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2019.03.034 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Fishbein, M., & Ajzen, I. (1975). Belief, attitude, intention, and behavior: An introduction to theory and research. Addison-Wesley. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. George, R., Mansor, N., & Rahman, S. A. (2019). E-waste management practices in Sabah. Journal of Sustainable Environmental Studies, 4, 101–115. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Goh, D. Z., & Suriani, S. (2024). Fostering sustainability: Enhancing electronic waste management awareness in Penang. Asian Journal of Professional & Business Studies, 5(2), 140–157. https://doi.org/10.61688/ajpbs.v5i2.350 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Hsu, C.-C., & Wen, M.-H. (2020). Environmental values and recycling intention. Journal of Business Research, 120, 178–190. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2020.08.015 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Idowu, O. L., Atherton, W., & Al-Ghassani, A. (2022). Electronic waste management and the theory of planned behaviour: A systematic review. Journal of Environmental Management, 300, 113753. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113753 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. Jamil, N. N. I., Sulaiman, F. C., & Ismail, N. A. (2023). Recycling intention and behaviour among higher education communities in Malaysia. Planning Malaysia, 19(19), 1072. https://doi.org/10.21837/pm.v19i19.1072 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Kaiser, F. G., Hubner, G., & Bogner, F. X. (2010). Contrasting the theory of planned behavior with the value-belief-norm model in explaining conservation behavior. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 30, 407–415. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2010.03.002 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. Kassim, E. S., Hassan, M. F., Mohd Nor, F., & Lee, T.-R. (2023). To recycle e-waste or not: Understanding consumers’ intention from the lens of behavioral theories. Information Management and Business Review, 15(1), 72–85. https://doi.org/10.22610/imbr.v15i1(I)SI.3409 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. Kordas, O., Anable, J., & Brand, C. (2020). Attitudinal predictors of recycling behaviour. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 71, 101492. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2020.101492 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

17. Lou, J. E. (2021). Developing an extended theory of planned behavior model for small e-waste recycling. Journal of Environmental Studies, 29, 45–58. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

18. Mahat, N., Hashim, M., & Saleh, Y. (2019). Knowledge, attitudes and practices of e-waste disposal in Selangor. Environmental Policy Studies, 8, 15–28. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

19. Manstead, A. S. R., & Parker, D. (1995). Evaluating and extending the theory of planned behaviour. European Review of Social Psychology, 6, 69–95. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

20. Mohamad, N. S., Thoo, A. C., & Huam, H. T. (2022). The determinants of consumers’ e-waste recycling behavior through the lens of extended theory of planned behavior. Sustainability, 14(15), 9031. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14159031 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

21. Mohd Iza Ney, M. D. A., Karunagaran, S., Praveen, S., & Tan, S. H. (2022). Understanding household recycling intentions using an extended TPB. International Journal of Management, Finance and Accounting, 3(2), 31–41. https://doi.org/10.33093/ijomfa.2022.3.2.3 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

22. Montalto, V., Lo Cascio, M., & Marino, L. (2021). Household e-waste recycling intention in developed contexts. Waste Management, 126, 123–131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2021.03.012 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

23. Nguyen, T. N., Lobo, A., & Greenland, S. (2019). Pro-environmental purchase behaviour: The role of consumers’ biospheric values. Environmental Research, 176, 108–116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2019.05.006 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

24. Nik Mohd Munir, N. M., Abd Hadi Khan, N. F., Mat Daud, N. I., Ahmad, N. A., & Mohd, F. (2023). Households’ intention to formally dispose e-waste using the theory of planned behavior. Asian Journal of Professional & Business Studies, 4(2). https://doi.org/10.61688/ajpbs.v4i2.123 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

25. Nordin, N. B., Mohd Noor, N. H., & Yaacob, M. A. (2025). E-waste recycling for environmental sustainability: Modelling behaviour in Malaysia. Journal of Tourism, Hospitality and Environment Management, 10(40), 217–231. https://doi.org/10.35631/JTHEM.1040014 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

26. Oreg, S., & Katz-Gilad, R. (2006). Predicting pro-environmental behavior using value-belief-norm theory. Environment and Behavior, 38, 462–483. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013916505286012 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

27. Schultz, P. W. (2014). Strategies for promoting pro-environmental behavior. European Psychologist, 19, 107–117. https://doi.org/10.1027/1016-9040/a000163 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

28. Schultz, P. W., Nolan, J. M., Cialdini, R. B., Goldstein, N. J., & Griskevicius, V. (2007). The constructive, destructive, and reconstructive power of social norms. Annual Review of Environment and Resources, 32, 413–437. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.energy.32.051807.090119 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

29. Shevchenko, O., Laitala, K., & Danko, Y. (2020). Understanding consumer behavior in sustainable waste disposal. Environmental Science & Policy, 108, 59–69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2020.03.010 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

30. Steg, L., Perlaviciute, G., Van der Werff, E., & Lurvink, J. (2014). The significance of hedonic values for environmentally relevant attitudes. Annual Review of Psychology, 65, 429–454. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-010213-115117 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

31. Stern, P. C. (2000). Toward a coherent theory of environmentally significant behavior. Journal of Social Issues, 56, 407–424. https://doi.org/10.1111/0022-4537.00175 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

32. Syahrul, A., Rahman, S. A., & Hashim, M. (2022). Public awareness and e-waste recycling behaviour in Malaysia. International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 30(2), 127–145. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJEWM.2022.124789 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

33. Thompson, R. C., Moore, C. J., Vom Saal, F. S., & Swan, S. H. (2017). Plastics, the environment and human health. Sustainability, 9, 112. https://doi.org/10.3390/su9010112 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

34. Tun Ismail, W. N. A., & Sulaiman, S. (2025). Sustaining the environment through e-waste recycling. Planning Malaysia, 23(35), Article 1669. https://doi.org/10.21837/pm.v23i35.1669 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

35. Vining, J., & Ebreo, A. (1990). What makes a recycler? Environment and Behavior, 22, 229–249. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013916590222001 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

36. Vining, J., & Ebreo, A. (1992). Predictors of recycling behavior. Environment and Behavior, 24, 473–495. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013916592244003 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• Methane Emissions from Municipal Solid Waste - Case Study in Cai Rang District, Can Tho City, Vietnam
• Youth Activism, Intentional Integration of Policies to Raise Awareness on Climate Change Action among the Youth
• Breathing Spaces: Environmental & User Experience in Dhanmondi and Zigatola Multistoried Apartments, Dhaka, Bangladesh
• Effects of Solid Waste Disposal on Soil Quality in Makurdi Metropolis, Benue State, Nigeria
• Environmental Impact of Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining in Borgu Local Government Area