Collection, Disposal, and Management of E‑Waste among Medical Students in Chandigarh: A Cross‑Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: E‑waste is an emerging environmental and public health challenge. In urban settings, improper disposal can pollute air, soil and water. Medical students are future health professionals and community influencers; understanding how they collect, dispose and manage e‑waste can guide targeted interventions.
Methods: A cross‑sectional study of 400 undergraduate medical and dental students in Chandigarh was conducted using a pre‑tested questionnaire. We measured e‑waste collection and disposal routes, access to formal services, awareness of recycling hotspots and policies, and preferred solutions to reduce informal recycling. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and chi‑square tests; p<0.05 was considered significant.
Results: Informal routes dominated disposal: 41.5% gave e‑waste to scrap dealers and 38.8% returned it to sellers; 18.0% reported formal recycling. Only 22.0% had access to a collection service and 18.5% knew of a recycling hotspot; 51.5% were aware of government policy. Students most often recommended awareness campaigns (44.7%) and stricter enforcement (29.5%). Female students more often agreed that source collection aids formal recycling (OR 2.16; 95% CI 1.42–3.29; p<0.001).
Conclusions: Students rely primarily on informal pathways, with limited access to formal collection systems and low awareness of recycling infrastructure. Colleges should install certified collection points, link with authorized recyclers and include practical policy education to strengthen safe e‑waste management.