Mobile phone waste management in developing countries: A case of Sri Lanka

Abstract

The fashionable and technological market has started to invent new trends of mobile phones frequently. This impacts on consumer attitude and shorten the usable life span of a mobile phone. Due to this the number of unused and waste mobile phones has started to increase and a need has arisen to manage mobile phone waste. Lack of legislation, illegal markets, second hand markets and lack of processing technologies make mobile phone waste management process more critical in developing countries compared to developed countries. In this context, the study intended to identify major gaps in mobile phone waste management in developing countries with a special emphasis on Sri Lanka. This was achieved through three case studies and six (06) expert interviews. The case studies focused on companies involved in mobile phone industry and expert interviews targeted individuals involved and experienced in mobile phone waste management. The research findings identified major gaps in legislation and processes, focusing on public contribution. Neither e-waste policies nor strategies are stimulating; people are unaware of impacts and proper management of mobile phone waste. Thus this research, a framework was developed by identifying gaps and makes suggestions to enhance mobile phone waste management in future.