Consumers and the Circular Economy - A study of consumer behavior about recycling and reuse of mobile phones

Abstract: The aim of the study was to research consumer behavior concerning past-use and end-of-life WEEE in Sweden, with a particular focus on consumer attitudes towards recycling and reuse of used mobile phones in the context of a Circular Economy. Our study focused on Swedish student and obtained data via a survey conducted by the authors. The data was analyzed through the use of descriptive analysis and logit regression models. The results show that respondents display a storing behavior in keeping their old and unused mobile phones and are generally unaware of how to recycle a phone. Convenience of recycling was the strongest predictor of recycling behavior, whilst reuse behavior was strongly linked to the quality and price of the already used mobile phone.