Forecasting the Efficacy of E-Waste Management System Using Fourier Series Approach Towards Environmental Sustainability

The rising volume of waste generated by electrical and electronic equipment is a significant global environmental concern. The effective management of electronic waste (e-waste) is now a crucial issue for socio-economic and environmental sustainability. This study aims to develop a predictive model using the Fourier series method to estimate the daily per capita production of electronic and solid waste. The study area was divided into three categories: administrative and office buildings, classroom buildings, and student lounges. Each category included four specific floors where bins were placed for data collection. The bins were emptied in the mornings on thirty consecutive weekdays over four weeks, and the waste was quantified using suitable equipment for analysis. The bins were serviced in the mornings on thirty consecutive weekdays over four weeks, and the waste amounts were measured using appropriate equipment to provide data for analysis. The results indicate a positive trend in the e-waste data for office, laboratory, lecture, and lounge rooms concerning the time and e-waste office data. However, the stationary assumption is not met, and a negative trend is observed. It is anticipated that e-waste from the lounge room will increase over the next 5 days, as evidenced by the rising blue curve. Model 1, applied to forecast e-waste for office rooms, predicts a decreasing trend in e-waste following the initial 30-day data. Model 2, using only one lag variable, suggests a constant trend for e-waste from the lecture room, with consistent forecasts for the next 5 days. Model 3, also utilizing a single lag variable, shows nearly constant observed data for e-waste in the laboratory room, indicating that the expected quantity of e-waste from the laboratory will remain unchanged. Finally, Model 4, with only one lag variable, predicts an increase in e-waste from the lounge room over the following 5 days, as indicated by the rising blue curve. Initiating waste reduction is often considered a rational initial step in establishing sustainable solid waste management practices. Reducing the quantity of waste that needs to be collected and disposed of is essential. Sanitation officers are advised to adopt the following strategies to decrease the per capita production of solid waste and enhance its disposal methods.