Comparison of e-waste management system in Switzerland and Italy : an analysis of citizens’ awareness levels
Creators: name: Ademi, Zana
Publisher: name: ZHAW Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften
Year: 2023
Subjects: 363: Umwelt- und Sicherheitsprobleme

description: The exponential growth of e-waste streams worldwide has raised significant concerns among governments on a global scale. While Switzerland is successfully managing its e-waste system, South European countries, Italy included, are facing challenges in achieving comparable success.
An effective e-waste management system relies on the correct disposal of appliances and devices by consumers, emphasizing the important role of citizens’ awareness about existing legal frameworks and correct disposal behavior. However, there is still a gap in the awareness level of households in this regard.
This study aimed to address the mentioned issue by presenting a comparative analysis of the e-waste management systems of Switzerland and Italy, with a focus on assessing the level of citizens’ awareness on WEEE, in order to determine whether there are differences among Swiss and Italian residents.
To address the research question, secondary data was collected to deliver an understanding of the current e-waste management sectors of both countries. Successively, due to limited data on citizens’ awareness on e-waste in Italy and Switzerland, a quantitative survey was conducted amongst the two nations. A total of 149 individuals were interviewed using a closed-ended questionnaire.
Based on the research results, significant differences could be observed in consumers’ awareness level between the two countries. Italian citizens demonstrated an insufficient awareness of local policy frameworks, suggesting lack of knowledge in specific guidelines regarding e-waste management. Moreover, a divergence was identified in the perception of individual responsibility as a citizen, indicating a greater awareness among Swiss residents of personal responsibility in addressing e-waste issues.
However, as both countries showed a comparable level of awareness concerning environmental and human health risks associated to e-waste, no significant differences were identified in the general understanding of e-waste harm between the two populations. Lastly, the majority of the public expressed the potential for changing their disposal behavior if access to better awareness and information regarding e-waste is handled.
The thesis’ findings suggest that there is still area for improvement in terms of citizens’ awareness in the context of e-waste in both countries. Strengthening public consciousness of rules and regulations is crucial not only in Italy, but also in Switzerland.
In conclusion, it can be assumed that increased awareness has the potential to influence individuals’ performance toward recycling, encouraging them to adopt a more responsible and sustainable e-waste disposal behavior. Italy should additionally focus on emphasizing individuals’ responsibility, underscoring the importance of citizens’ contribution to address this issue, while implemented frameworks should be promoted at a national level. Overall, this thesis underscores the importance of citizens’ awareness in the field of e-waste and reveals variations in the awareness level between the two populations.