End-user perceptions of a smart e-waste collection container for digital health devices: qualitative data from DiCE co-creation sessions

This dataset contains qualitative feedback collected during co-creation sessions conducted within the DiCE – Digital Health in the Circular Economy project. The co-creation activities explored how end users perceive different approaches for collecting electronic waste (e-waste) from digital health devices and how collection systems could be designed to facilitate and encourage the return of such devices. The data were collected during facilitated co-creation sessions with citizens in Belgium, Spain and Slovenia. As part of the session, participants were introduced to the concept of the GRIN smart collection container and received an explanation of how it works. They were subsequently shown a video demonstrating the container and its intended use. Participants did not physically interact with or test the smart collection container. Their feedback should therefore be interpreted as an assessment of the presented concept and demonstrated user interaction, rather than as feedback resulting from hands-on user testing or real-life use. After viewing the demonstration, participants were invited to reflect on the smart container from an end-user perspective. They were asked to formulate questions about the container, identify features or aspects they considered positive, and discuss potential disadvantages, concerns and points for improvement. The exercise was facilitated as a group discussion, and participants’ contributions were recorded for subsequent qualitative analysis and categorisation. The exercise thus provides insight into participants’ initial perceptions, expectations, concerns and perceived requirements regarding a smart e-waste collection container. It does not provide evidence on actual usability, user behaviour or experiences resulting from physical interaction with the container. The Excel workbook contains three worksheets: Questions: questions raised by participants about the smart collection container, including issues related to its functionality, QR-code scanning, technical operation, logistics, accessibility, privacy, safety, recycling and implementation. Positive feedback: aspects of the smart container that participants considered useful or attractive, such as ease of use, convenience, environmental benefits, design, safety and the possibility of returning devices without staff assistance. Critical feedback: concerns and suggested improvements relating, among other things, to functionality, accessibility and inclusivity, communication and instructions, technical reliability, safety, design, costs and privacy. The worksheets contain the participants’ comments in English and, where available, a qualitative categorisation of these comments. Summary tables provide frequencies for the coded categories. The comments were originally collected during the co-creation sessions and could be recorded in the participants’ local language; contributions from the different regions were subsequently translated into English to enable cross-regional analysis. The broader DiCE co-creation activities were conducted in Belgium, Spain and Slovenia. This workbook represents a consolidated compilation of feedback. It does not contain participant identifiers, nor does it identify the individual co-creation session or country associated with each comment. Consequently, the rows should be interpreted as individual qualitative statements rather than individual respondents: a single participant may have contributed more than one question or comment, and frequencies therefore refer to coded statements rather than numbers or percentages of participants. The dataset can be used to explore end-user requirements, perceived benefits, potential barriers and design considerations for smart collection infrastructure for small electronic and digital health devices. It provides qualitative input for the further development and implementation of user-friendly, accessible and effective e-waste collection solutions.