What makes residents more willing to participate in source separation of waste masks under the COVID-19 pandemic?

With the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the generation of a large amount of medical waste brought a rude shock to the existing solid waste management system. Since masks constitute the most common household medical waste under the COVID-19 pandemic, their effective collection and treatment can significantly reduce the potential risks for secondary transmission, and this concern has attracted worldwide attention. Taking Macau City as a case study, this research tried to identify factors that can influence residents' behavioral intentions toward the source separation of COVID-19 waste masks. The extended theory of planned behavior (TPB) model is used to examine the influence factors of the source separation behaviors of 510 respondents. The results show that the main factors that positively affected respondents' behavioral intentions toward waste-mask source separation are: cognitive attitude, convenience, and perceived behavioral control, and among these, cognitive attitude has the highest influence. Subjective norm is also proved to be the weak factor to improving behavioral intention. Policy advocacy, and demographic variables have no significant effect on behavioral intention. The results of this study can help decision makers and managers formulate effective strategies to increase residents' participation in the source separation of waste masks. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10163-022-01513-7.

Differences and determinants for polluted area, urban and rural residents' willingness to hand over and pay for waste mobile phone recycling: Evidence from China.

Currently, China has the largest generation volume of waste mobile phones (WMPs), but the recycling rate is still negligible. How to improve the willingness to hand (WTH) over to formal recycling channels and willingness to pay (WTP) have become the most core problems in the e-waste recycling industry. As the important link between WMPs generation and collection, the residents' role and function are attracting more and more attention. Thus, this study is designed to identify the determinants of the residents' WTH and WTP for WMPs through the contingent valuation method (CVM). At the same time, it will explore the current existing gaps from the urban and rural residents. Especially, this study also considers Guiyu Town as one special rural region for understanding the differences with other regions. The results show that the respondents generally have the relatively lower knowledge and cognition on WMPs recycling. Only 9.4% respondents are satisfied with the current government's management of WMPs. Personal information leakage is an important reason for low WTH. The WTH of Guiyu, urban and rural respondents were 51.3%, 45.9% and 41.2%, respectively; while their WTP were 46.80%, 31.70% and 37.80%, respectively. Finally, it is estimated that their WTP values were 18.75 ($2.81), 16.14 ($2.42) and 15.85 ($2.38) RMB per unit, respectively. The demographic variables, cognition and attitude are important factors on all residents' WTH and WTP. Meanwhile, it is indicated that if owning higher WTH, the residents will trend to higher WTP. Especially, the WTH and WTP of Guiyu residents are higher than other residents.

Composition changes, releases, and potential exposure risk of PBDEs from typical E-waste plastics.

Since Stockholm Convention listed polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) as persistent organic pollutants and banned their addition, alternative halogen flame retardants (AHFRs) have been substituted for PBDEs. This study systematically investigates the change trends of PBDEs and AHFRs from typical e-waste plastics and dust, as well as clarifying human exposure risks of PBDEs in formal and informal e-waste recycling enterprises, repair store and residential building. The results show that the PBDEs levels in five typical types of e-waste vary in the range of 1.08 × 10-3-30.8 µg/g, meeting the requirements of RoHS regulation. Compared with the residential buildings (1.49-1.68 µg/g), PBDEs in the dust from the formal and informal e-waste recycling enterprises are much higher, ranging from 4.70 to 536 µg/g. BDE-209 is the main congener in most e-waste plastic and dust samples. Meanwhile, AHFRs have become the important composition (3.5-61.5%) in e-waste plastics, while its contribution is lower in dust, implying the higher enrichment efficiency of PBDEs. For PBDEs exposure, the dust intake risk of PBDEs is much higher than skin contact for the workers, and the highest hazard quotient (HQ) value (1.40 × 10-1) and cancer risk (CR) value (1.21 × 10-7) both imply safe exposure levels.

Removal of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in high impact polystyrene (HIPS) from waste TV sets.

Most studies have shown that improper disposal of e-waste can accelerate the release of high concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and this situation causes environmental pollution and human health risks. The recycling technology of waste electronic plastics based on solvent processes can reduce environmental pollution and health risks from PBDEs. In this study, high impact polystyrene (HIPS) from waste TV sets was taken as the research object, and d-limonene and n-propanol were used as solvent and precipitant, respectively. We studied the relationship between the precipitation conditions and the size of precipitate particles, and the effect laws of precipitation conditions on the removal percentage of PBDEs were discussed. Transferring behavior of PBDEs during precipitation was investigated, and the parameters suitable for removing PBDEs from HIPS solution were confirmed. Results showed that lower HIPS concentration in d-limonene, lower precipitation temperature, higher mass ratio of n-propanol to HIPS solution, and greater stirring speed were conducive to form smaller and more uniform precipitate particles. All conditions (concentration, temperature, mass ratio, and stirring rate) that could increase the solubility of PBDEs in the mixed solvent of limonene and n-propanol or decrease the swelling degree of HIPS precipitate particles, or reduce the size of particles could improve the removal percentage of PBDEs. The investigated results indicated that insoluble PBDEs (e.g., decabromodiphenyl ether) transferred into the HIPS precipitate mainly through the generated crystals and then precipitated together with the HIPS particles, and soluble PBDEs (e.g., octabromodiphenyl ether) migrated into the precipitate by the solution entrained. The precipitate particles, which measured approximately 1.0 mm (on average), were obtained when the solution containing 10% of HIPS from waste TV shell was precipitated by adding n-propanol equivalent to twice the mass of the solution at 40 °C and 3000 r/min stirring speed. The total concentration of PBDEs in the precipitate particles (dried) was reduced to 2369 mg/kg, and 88.06% of the PBDEs in the original plastic solution was successfully removed by this process.

Identifying the status and differences between urban and rural residents' behaviors and attitudes toward express packaging waste management in Guangdong Province, China.

With the rapid development of the express delivery industry, the environmental issues of express packaging waste (EPW) have gradually attracted public attention worldwide. As important participants, consumers' behaviors and attitudes will play a vital role in solving the problem. This study uses the conditional value method (CVM) to evaluate the differences in the attitudes and willingness to pay of urban and rural residents toward EPW in Guangdong Province, China. The results show that the respondents have limited knowledge of the recycling situation, relevant policies and environmental impacts of express delivery packaging, although more than 60% of respondents do think that there is a problem with excessive packaging. The low recycling rate for packaging materials is mainly attributed to the lack of recycling facilities and publicity on environmental issues. The differences between urban and rural residents are mainly over disposal methods, the views on excessive packaging and willingness to pay (WTP) for EPW. Finally, the WTP values of urban and rural residents choosing a "deposit" system are 1.58 ($0.24) and 1.79 yuan ($0.28) per piece, respectively, while the WTP values (for increased fees) are 0.64 yuan ($0.10) and 0.60 yuan ($0.09) per piece, respectively. The obtained results may serve as a reference for different regional responses to the promotion and improvement of EPW management in the future.

Human exposure to PBDEs in e-waste areas: A review.

Polybrominated biphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are commonly added to electronic products for flame-retardation effects, and are attracting more and more attentions due to their potential toxicity, durability and bioaccumulation. This study conducts a sysmtematic review to understand the human exposure to PBDEs from e-waste recycling, especially exploring the exposure pathways and human burden of PBDEs as well as investigating the temporal trend of PBDEs exposure worldwide. The results show that the particular foods (contaminated fish, poultry, meat and breast milk) ingestion, indoor dust ingestion and indoor air inhalation may be key factors leading to human health risks of PBDEs exposure in e-waste recycling regions. Residents and some vulnerable groups (occupational workers and children) in e-waste recycling areas may face higher exposure levels and health risks. PBDE exposure is closely related to exposure level, exposure duration, e-waste recycling methods, and dietary customs. High levels of PBDEs are found in human tissues (breast milk, hair, blood (serum), placenta and other tissues) in e-waste areas, at far higher levels than in other areas. Existing data indicate that PBDE exposure levels do not present any apparent downward trend, and will possibly cause serious human diseases. More epidemiological studies are still needed to provide a solid basis for health risk assessment.

Uncovering residents' behaviors, attitudes, and WTP for recycling e-waste: a case study of Zhuhai city, China.

China is among the countries facing the most serious pollution effects of e-waste. Many studies have focused on e-waste recycling laws and regulations, recycling technologies, and the pollution situation in China. However, there is a lack of case studies from the perspective of the residents' attitudes and opinions about e-waste recycling. Based on 474 families surveyed by questionnaire, this study, taking Zhuhai City as one example, investigated residents' behaviors and attitudes toward e-waste disposal, and their willingness to pay (WTP) for e-waste recycling. A majority (76.4%) of respondents realized that the improper treatment of e-waste would cause serious threats to the environment and human health. Only 38.2% of respondents were willing to pay for e-waste recycling. Most respondents believed that the fee should be borne by government and manufacturers. These results imply that income level and satisfaction with management will promote WTP significantly, whereas the recovery price is a negative influence on the respondents' WTP. The WTP values were positively correlated with environmental awareness and income at 5% and 10%, respectively. Finally, the estimated average monthly WTP value per household in Zhuhai City is 10.2 RMB ($1.6).