Information exchange model for sustainable E-Waste management in Kenya

Abstract

Globally, the quick adoption, use and disposal of ICTs wastes have resulted to the flourishing of the e-waste phenomenon that has increased the level of e-waste streams. The rate of growth of this stream of waste is between 3–5% per year. This is viewed as approximately three times faster than solid waste from ordinary municipalities. Davis and Heart (2015) argued that the e-waste stream increase has attracted attention from various bodies such as individuals, governments, and even researchers and academicians because of its impact on the human and environment and health. This research sought to examine the existing model and develop a new information exchange model for sustainable management of e-waste in Kenya. A pre-study was also carried out to investigate the process of e-waste management in Kenya. The study’s targeted population is comprised of stakeholders of the e-waste management system in Kenya. In Kenya, the systems for management of e-waste comprises of stakeholders who range from importers, retailers, assemblers, downstream vendors, consumers, refurbishes, recyclers, and final waste disposers and chosen households located near dumpsites to policy-makers. The study’s sample size was determined using the Yamano Taros formula, Israel (2012). The study’s sample size comprised 50 stakeholders of e-waste management in Nairobi. The participants were chosen using a simple purposive sampling technique. The 50 represents 50% of the total population. The participants were chosen using the purposive random sampling technique. The study employed questionnaires for data collection. This study employed both descriptive and exploratory survey designs. This is because the study involves a mix of quantitative and qualitative approaches. The responses from questionnaires were analyzed using SPSS. The study established that currently, there is no information exchange model in Nairobi and thus the whole practice of e-waste management was manual. Rapid Application Development (RAD) was employed in system design to give high-quality results and for faster development compared to the traditional lifecycle of system development. The use of RAD entailed collecting requirements through use of workshops, prototyping, focus groups and early user texting of design, and also the re-use of software modules. The information model was developed and tested and found to be easier and to enhance the efficiency of e-waste management in Nairobi.