Background: This study aimed to examine e-waste management in the woreda offices of Addis Ketema Sub-City, Addis Ababa City Administration, Ethiopia, and to determine the concentrations of heavy metals in computer printed circuit boards (PCBs).
Methods: This cross-sectional survey was conducted among 368 employees from 14 woredas using structured questionnaires. Three samples of discarded computer PCBs were analyzed for Mn, Ni, Pb, Cd, and Cu using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy.
Results: Most employees (74.2%) were not aware of e-waste management, 75% had not received training, and only 26.6% knew proper disposal methods. Although 81.5% recognized its environmental and health impacts, 70.4% did not believe e-waste harms human or environmental health. Logistic regression showed that training, educational status, access to collectors, and access to disposal sites were significantly associated with better awareness, attitudes, and practices (P < 0.05). Analysis of PCBs
revealed mean concentrations (mg/kg) of Cu: 78,402.44 ± 13.44, Pb: 5,821.08 ± 11.29, Ni: 1,620.11 ± 6.15, Mn: 120.72 ± 2.19, and Cd: 0.1 ± 0.09. The levels of Cu and Pb exceeded the Toxicity Threshold Limit Concentrations (2,500 and 1,000 mg/kg, respectively), indicating potential environmental and health risks. Administrative, economic, and socio-cultural challenges contributed to poor e-waste management in the sub-city’s woreda offices.
Conclusion: E-waste management in the sub-city is inadequate. Enhancing training, access to formal collection systems, and enforcement of regulations is essential to reduce the adverse impacts of hazardous e-waste on human and environmental health.