E-waste recycling practices in research labs: evaluating the effectiveness of Dalhousie University’s E-Recycling Program in the Faculties of Science and Engineering

Abstract

Electronic waste, abbreviated to e-waste, refers to discarded electronics. This can include items like batteries, computers, printer cartridges, or even larger appliances like refrigerators and ovens. As the use of electronics grows, so does the amount of e-waste produced. Leading to an increasing concern. Universities produce large amounts of e-waste and a significant amount of this is due to laboratories that require the use of electronics in research-based initiatives. Each department and faculty produce different amounts of e-waste depending on their specific research. This study focussed on identifying the amount and type of e-waste that gets produced in labs at Dalhousie University within the Faculties of Science and Engineering. Dalhousie University has two existing initiatives for e-waste: Green Labs and the Dalhousie University E-waste recycling program. The purpose of this research is to determine how well Dalhousie University’s E-recycling program is being used and if it is effectively meeting the electronic disposal needs of these Faculties. Data were collected using information from the E-Recycling Program and from survey responses collected from research labs within the Faculties of Science and Engineering. Both data sets were analyzed separately to determine faculty and departmental trends and any recommendations for improvements. Our results reveal that Dalhousie University’s E-Recycling Program has higher demand within the Faculty of Science on the Studley campus compared to the Faculty of Engineering on the Sexton campus. With desktop computers being most disposed of. Results from the survey responses reported the program to be accessible, albeit not adequately meeting the needs of labs. Ultimately, more awareness, convenience and communication are needed to improve Dalhousie University’s E-Recycling Program. Keywords: E-waste, recycling, university, digitalization, obsolescence, circular economy, Research Laboratory