PENGETAHUAN MASYARAKAT TENTANG BARANG ELEKTRONIK BEKAS (E WASTE) DI KOTA SEMARANG

Sari

Indonesian is one of the largest consumers of home electronics in Asia. It is therefore
conceivable that in the next few years Indonesian will experience E-Waste booming. This
does not include the amount of E-Waste entering Indonesian illegally from some
developed countries. From the results of a preliminary survey conducted by the BCRCSEA Jakarta in 2007, compared to other developing countries in Southeast Asia, people
awareness towards the problems of E-Waste in Indonesian is relatively left behind. This
study attempts to analyze public perceptions and behavior towards waste and the factors
that influence waste management in Semarang. This study also tries to find out how much
the public’s willingness to engage in recycling electronic waste. The findings showed that
public perception in Semarang toward E-Waste and its recycling considered low. While
most of respondents preferred to get service and reparation for their out of order
electronics. Respondents argued that E-Waste recycling will merely benefit certain
parties. It also due to respondents’ low knowledge on E-Waste and its recycling. Most
respondents, however, stated that they were ready to participate in recycling E-Waste,
with expenditure around Rp5,000,- up to Rp10,000,-. From the study results, demografic
variable influenced respondents’ perception and behavior, though it was insignificant.
Whereas factors that shaped and influenced public’s willingness in Kota Semarang to be
involved in E-Waste recycling was respondent’s assessment concerned to current
environmental condition, public perception and behavior toward E-Waste dan its
recycling effort, the cost in carrying out E-Waste recycle process, and their knowledge
about E-Waste and its recycle possibility.
Key Word : E-Waste, recycle, perception and behavior, willingnes