Description
The recycling of electronic waste (e-waste) has become a global issue. This research examines the issues associated with e-waste recycling at the level of a TAFE institute with 17 campuses. Findings suggest that at a local level people are willing to deal with e-waste in a sustainable manner. If given a choice, they will usually pick the most convenient method of disposal, such as kerbside pick up. The research was funded through the NCVER's Building Researcher Capacity initiative and was undertaken by a novice researcher in the Community of Practice Scholarship Program.Summary
About the research
Building the research capacity of the vocational education and training (VET) sector is a key concern for the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER). To assist with this objective, NCVER supports a community of practice scholarship program, whereby VET practitioners without research experience are given the opportunity to undertake their own research to address a workplace problem. Scholarship recipients are supported by a mentor, and NCVER publishes their research results.
Virginia Waite participated in the 2009 community of practice. Virginia is an information technology teacher at the Kempsey campus of the North Coast TAFE. Her research draws on the Australian literature on the management of e-waste and then examines the results of a survey, distributed to campus managers and project coordinators throughout the North Coast TAFE, to uncover what practices they currently have in place to deal with e-waste.
Virginia finds that, at the local level, there is a willingness to sort, store and dispose of e-waste in a more sustainable way rather than disposal via landfill. However, TAFE employees face issues with storage and transport of e-waste.
Tom Karmel
Managing Director, NCVER