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1 – 10 of 731The paper aims to ascertain whether residents in Nguyen Du ward still sort their waste at source following the end of the 3R project that ended in 2009. Additionally, this paper…
Abstract
Purpose
The paper aims to ascertain whether residents in Nguyen Du ward still sort their waste at source following the end of the 3R project that ended in 2009. Additionally, this paper aims to explore the relationship between waste separation practices and social bonds.
Design/methodology/approach
The Travis Hirschi theory of social control was applied, together with the mixed method research design which included a structured questionnaire survey. Twelve semi-structured interviews were also conducted with residents and the data processed by SPSS software, using Chi-Square test, Independent-Samples t-test and Pearson's correlation analysis.
Findings
A proportion of respondents has continued practicing waste separation since the 3R project ended. The study also indicated that the greater the involvement in family and neighborhood activities the more the participants were likely to practice waste separation.
Research limitations/implications
The small sample size limits the extent to which the most influential factors can be determined and therefore the degree to which the findings can be generalized.
Practical implications
The study includes implications for rerunning the waste separation programs for households as together with community campaigns to improve individuals' attachment and commitment and thus their participation in pro-environmental behaviors.
Originality/value
To the author’s knowledge, this is the first study to take a sociological approach to investigate factors affecting household waste separation, which has attracted little attention in previous studies. Useful information is also provided to local authorities for a policy-making process to implement effective domestic waste policies.
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Siti Fadzilah Ayob, Low Sheau-Ting, Rohaya Abdul Jalil and Hon-Choong Chin
This study aims to identify the key determinants of waste separation intention among the students in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM).
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to identify the key determinants of waste separation intention among the students in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM).
Design/methodology/approach
This study adopted the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) as the fundamental framework. The key determinants of waste separation behaviour are attitude, subjective norm (SN) and perceived behavioural control. An elicitation survey has been conducted to explore the students’ beliefs relative to waste separation behaviour. The empirical data collected were analysed using structural equation modelling (SEM) assisted by SmartPLS software.
Findings
The result shows that only two determinants are significant towards intention, attitude and perceived behavioural control, while SN is not. The results of the study are significant to the organisation, as an identification of the determinants that influence waste separation intention contributes to a more focused waste separation programme aligned to Malaysia’s objective towards a sustainable developing country.
Originality/value
There are few studies on solid waste separation compared to food waste and industrial waste separation. The authors focus on the identification of the key determinants of solid waste separation intention among students. This study serves as an initial attempt to adopt the TPB in solid waste separation context, hence contributing to existing literature.
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Poh Yen Ng, Poh-Ling Ho and Joseph Kee-Ming Sia
This paper positions environmental concern as the antecedent of attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavioural control. It also sets to expand the theory of planned behaviour…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper positions environmental concern as the antecedent of attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavioural control. It also sets to expand the theory of planned behaviour by including two condition factors: favourable situation and facility availability on the intention to separate food waste at source.
Design/methodology/approach
The study collects data by using self-administered questionnaires on 682 respondents in Malaysia. Structural equation modelling is employed to test the conceptual model and the proposed hypotheses.
Findings
The results show that environmental concern positively influences attitude and subjective norms, which, in turn, influences food waste separation intention. Favourable situation and facility availability are found to influence the separation intention.
Originality/value
This study is one of the earliest studies to investigate residents’ intention to participate in food waste separation at a source that employs the expanded theory of planned behaviour with environmental concern and condition factors.
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Hamdiyah Alhassan, Felix Ankomah Asante, Martin Oteng-Ababio and Simon Bawakyillenuo
The purpose of this paper is to examine the factors that encourage households’ source separation behaviour in Accra and Tamale Metropolises in Ghana.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the factors that encourage households’ source separation behaviour in Accra and Tamale Metropolises in Ghana.
Design/methodology/approach
Using a cross-sectional design, 855 households of Ghana were interviewed based on the theoretical framework of the theory of planned behaviour (TPB). The ordered probit regression model was employed to examine the factors that influence households’ source separation intention.
Findings
The results indicated that educational attainment of head of household, total income of household, occupation type of household head, information, past experience with source separation, inconvenience in terms of time, space and availability of formal source separation scheme, attitude, subjective norm and the location of the respondents significantly predicted households’ solid waste separation intentions.
Research limitations/implications
The cross-sectional design does not determine causality but an association. Thus, future studies should examine actual household waste separation behaviour by using the experimental design to test the TPB model.
Practical implications
To promote solid waste separation at source, the public should be educated and provided with solid waste separation schemes that are efficient and compatible with households’ preference.
Originality/value
This study was partly motivated by the fact that despite the benefits associated with source separation, little attention has been given to formal source separation in Ghana. Moreover, there are limited studies on source separation behaviour in Ghana using the TPB as the theoretical framework.
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The key challenge that urban cities in most developing and transitional economies is confronting is municipal solid waste (MSW) management. Waste separation is a critical…
Abstract
Purpose
The key challenge that urban cities in most developing and transitional economies is confronting is municipal solid waste (MSW) management. Waste separation is a critical component to successful recycling management in terms of enhancing the quality of recyclables, reducing MSW and optimizing incineration. The urge to actualizing sustained waste separation behavior has been hindered by potential barriers. This study aims to examine the influences of external and internal stimuli of targeted households' waste separation intention in parts of China.
Design/methodology/approach
A multifactor framework predicting the process that leads to waste separation attitude and behavioral intention is proposed. SEM analysis is conducted in SmartPLS based on 371 survey questionnaires collected in Nanning city in China.
Findings
Policy regulation is the biggest determinant of attitude among external stimuli, while awareness of consequence has the strongest relationship with an attitude among internal stimuli. Facilitating conditions, subjective norms and moral norms are all significant predictors of attitude. As a result, increasing positive attitude leads to enhance waste separation lifestyle.
Research limitations/implications
This study adopts a cross-sectional design to investigate the waste separation intention of local households. Data collection is restricted to one point in time for every individual. A mixed method is recommended. Quantitative research can examine variables provided in existing literature with numerical analysis. Qualitative research might be helpful to identify other unknown factors. Also, the survey questionnaires employ a self-reported manner, and respondents might be overrating to avoid embarrassment.
Practical implications
Future research is recommended to engage observation at houses or at the waste-collecting points for actual waste separation behavior. Moreover, this study measures intention toward household waste separation, but whether this intention will eventually lead to waste separation behavior is not a guarantee. Future study is recommended to examine whether intention translates into actual waste separation behavior.
Originality/value
Emphasizing the importance of policy element as a direct influence toward attitude, this paper focuses on the waste separation attitude accumulated from external and internal stimuli, and, concurrently, waste separation behavioral intention is influenced by accumulated attitudes. The study provides relevant policy development information of three Asian countries to enhance their present and future policy directions for a sustainable household waste separation management process
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Paul Blaise Issock Issock, Mornay Roberts-Lombard and Mercy Mpinganjira
The aim of this paper is to examine the motives behind the separation of household waste (or the lack of such separation) on the basis of the theory of interpersonal behaviour…
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this paper is to examine the motives behind the separation of household waste (or the lack of such separation) on the basis of the theory of interpersonal behaviour. The aim of this paper is to broaden and deepen the understanding of key determinants of household waste separation (or the lack of such separation). This study proposes a conceptual model based on the theory of interpersonal behaviour in combination with the focus theory of normative conduct.
Design/methodology/approach
A quantitative method was applied to investigate the views of 350 heads of households in the Johannesburg metropolitan area through an administered questionnaire. Structural equation modelling was employed to test the hypothesised structural relationships in the proposed model.
Findings
The results indicate that household waste separation intention is influenced by cognition of the consequences and by injunctive and personal normative pressures. Separation intention and past habits were found to have a direct influence on actual separation behaviour.
Originality/value
While the theory of planned behaviour is ubiquitous in the recycling literature, this study presents a different, broader framework for a better understanding of the drivers of household waste separation. This is achieved by applying the theory of interpersonal behaviour in combination with the focus theory of normative conduct. The findings provide insights that could help municipalities in emerging markets to promote household waste separation for better management of the environment.
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Kin Wai Michael Siu and Jia Xin Xiao
This paper aims to address convenience as a prominent feature of a scheduled society and examines the nature of convenience, identifies the waste collection system and recycling…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to address convenience as a prominent feature of a scheduled society and examines the nature of convenience, identifies the waste collection system and recycling programmes in some densely populated areas in Asia and discusses the existing barriers to enhancing the convenience of the recycling facilities in Hong Kong. The paper further identifies some recommendations for the policy and design of recycling practices and facilities.
Design/methodology/approach
In this qualitative study, two districts in Hong Kong from 2013 to 2014 were used as case studies. The research methods included field observations, semi-structured interviews and ethnographic research. The locations for field observation included lobbies, corridors, lifts, ground floors and streets. Direct interviews were conducted with residents, cleaners, government officials and expert planners and environmentalists. In-depth interviews and observations were conducted with six families following the interviews to identify important issues that might have been ignored in the semi-structured interviews and field observations.
Findings
A holistic understanding of convenience in a scheduled society is effective in the design of high-quality recycling facilities. In terms of convenience, the gap between recycling and not recycling is rather obvious in Hong Kong. Therefore, it is necessary and important to adjust the difference in the degree of convenience regarding refuse disposal and recyclable collection. In addition, the enhancement of economic incentives could shift the degree of convenience and encourage public participation in recycling. The challenges of specific living conditions and social contexts should also be taken into account to enhance the convenience of recycling.
Research limitations/implications
Further case studies are expected in other countries and cities with the purpose of gaining an in-depth understanding of the means by which to approach the convenience of recycling programmes within various social contexts. Comprehensive and continuous studies on these factors are recommended throughout the design and implementation processes to account for constantly changing situations. A clear understanding of convenience from the perspective of the users is important.
Practical implications
The findings provide reference and direction for a holistic approach to the design and management of recycling facilities in Hong Kong. The findings also advocate the consideration of convenience from the perspective of the users.
Social implications
The findings illustrate how to design and manage public facilities for waste recycling in ways that encourage household and community participation in terms of convenience.
Originality/value
The paper identifies the manner by which the culture of convenience and an institutionalised rhythm influence recycling practices. Although substantial studies on recycling indicate that convenience is a necessary characteristic of designs and services, the nature of convenience and the means by which to approach convenience in terms of public facilities are seldom discussed. The paper proposes several recommendations on the basis of the studies of the refuse collection programmes in other areas of Asia and case studies in Hong Kong. The findings provide insights for policymakers, researchers and designers to improve the design of public facilities.
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Waste management behaviours (WMBs) play an important role in minimising metropolitan solid waste generation and reducing the environmental impacts caused by waste disposal. The…
Abstract
Purpose
Waste management behaviours (WMBs) play an important role in minimising metropolitan solid waste generation and reducing the environmental impacts caused by waste disposal. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of social norms, organisational norms and personal norms in explaining individuals’ engagement in WMBs, which include waste avoidance, green purchasing, reusing and recycling and waste disposal.
Design/methodology/approach
The metropolitan city of Bangkok, Thailand was selected as a case study – it faces waste management problems caused by a massive increase in waste over the past decade. This study distributed questionnaires to 193 public and private officers residing in the city of Bangkok. Path analyses and a multiple regression analysis were performed to test the effect of each norm and the association of various norms on individuals’ engagement in WMBs.
Findings
The results revealed that organisational norms had the strongest effect (both direct and indirect) on WMBs. Personal norms also had a direct effect on WMBs. In contrast, social norms did not directly influence WMBs; however, they did have an indirect effect on WMBs through organisational norms.
Practical implications
This study suggests that the role of organisational norms should be heavily emphasised in promoting the WMBs of public and private officers.
Originality/value
This study found that the role of organisational norms is the most significant factor influencing WMBs in workplaces. In addition, both provincial and subjective environmental norms in organisations significantly affect WMBs. They should be enhanced in order to promote WMBs in organisations.
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Maxwell Kwame Boakye, Selase Kofi Adanu, Worlanyo Kwabena Agbosu, Samuel Yaw Lissah, Abdul-Rahaman Abdul-Aziz and Anita Gyamea Owusu
Several waste bin sanitation initiatives have been introduced in Ghana to address the surge in indiscriminate solid waste disposal in households. What is not known are the…
Abstract
Purpose
Several waste bin sanitation initiatives have been introduced in Ghana to address the surge in indiscriminate solid waste disposal in households. What is not known are the behavior factors that determine the acceptability and use of waste bins. This study aimed to identify the determinants of waste bin acceptability and use in Ghana using the theory of planned behavior (TPB).
Design/methodology/approach
Data on waste bin acceptability and usage were collected from 881 households in the Volta and Oti regions of Ghana. The data were analyzed using the partial least squares-structural equation modeling technique in SmartPLS 3 software.
Findings
The coefficient of determination (R-squared value) of the original TPB and the extended model explained 39.9 and 44.7% of the variance in waste bin acceptability and use intentions, respectively. The results revealed that attitudes (ß = 0.114, t = 3.322, p < 0.001), subjective norms (ß = 0.306, t = 6.979, p < 0.001) and perceived moral obligation (ß = 0.352, t = 8.062, p < 0.001) significantly predicted household waste bin acceptability and use behavior intentions, but perceived behavioral control (ß = −0.003, t = 0.064, p < 0.949) did not influence behavior intentions significantly.
Practical implications
The study provides valuable insights into the behavioral factors to be prioritized by waste management service providers to improve household waste bin acceptability and usage.
Originality/value
This is one of Ghana's first studies investigating the behavioral determinants of waste bin acceptability and usage.
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Edmund Khoo Chengqin, Suhaiza Zailani, Muhammad Khalilur Rahman, Azmin Azliza Aziz, Miraj Ahmed Bhuiyan and Md. Abu Issa Gazi
This study aims to investigate the determinants of household behavioural intention towards household reducing, reusing and recycling behaviour of food waste management.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the determinants of household behavioural intention towards household reducing, reusing and recycling behaviour of food waste management.
Design/methodology/approach
The data were collected from 670 households in Malaysia and analysed by using the partial least square method.
Findings
The findings reveal that motivation to participate, ability to participate and perceived benefits are the crucial factors that significantly influence households’ attitudes. Household attitude has a significant impact on household behavioural intention, whilst social influence and perceived behavioural control are not associated with it. Government support is positively related to perceived behavioural control. The result also indicates that household behavioural intention has a significant impact on household reducing, reusing and recycling behaviour.
Research limitations/implications
The participants of this study were involved in home planning and food preparation in Malaysia. The individuals in charge of the household might have more awareness of food planning and waste control. Thus, it is recommended to adopt findings from other countries and learn from the experience of the local and international communities.
Practical implications
The households’ behavioural intentions can lead to the reducing, reusing and recycling behaviour of food waste management. The government policy mechanisms and households’ awareness can work effectively against food waste reduction because evaluations of the food waste programme were found to be scarce.
Social implications
Food insecurity is one of the major social problems. Many people are not aware of the food waste impacts and consequences; thus, motivation, knowledge and information should be provided to the consumer through forums and campaigns.
Originality/value
The findings contribute to new insights of household behavioural intention towards food waste reduction management by assessing the determinants of household attitude and government support for food waste reduction management programmes towards household reducing, reusing and recycling behaviours.
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