Electrical and Electronic Waste Management in Benin: Socio-Environmental and Economic Practices of Households and Professionals

The awareness of the environmental impact of managing electrical and electronic equipment waste is an increasingly pressing concern for many surveyed households. This study aims to explore the socio-economic aspects and environmental impacts of the practices of households, waste recoverers, and repairers involved in managing electrical and electronic equipment waste in Benin. Eight hundred and forty-one (841) individuals were surveyed, including six hundred and one (601) heads of households from various socio-economic backgrounds, one hundred and twenty (120) waste recoverers, and one hundred and twenty (120) repairers responsible for workshops on electrical and electronic equipment, distributed across three major cities in the country. Data collection, tailored to the characteristics of each target group, was conducted over ninety (90) days in the three cities. Quantitative data underwent statistical analyses, including correlation tests, variance analyses, and descriptive statistics. Our results reveal that 40.12% of respondents consider the environmental impact to be significant. Additionally, 45.12% reported having opted for the repair of an electronic device rather than purchasing a new one. The waste recoverers noted improvements in cleanliness (30.12%) and a reduction in landfill waste (35.30%). Notably, the majority of waste recoverers (70.48%) expressed an interest in training programmes on sustainable electronic waste management, indicating a desire for improvement and professionalisation in their field. Furthermore, 40.25% of the repairers surveyed identified the procurement of spare parts as a major challenge, with a lack of technical information (25.16%). The findings have facilitated the proposal for the establishment of a transversal electronic waste management unit, UTG521.