Effects of improved information and volunteer support on segregation of solid waste at the household level in urban settings in Madhya Pradesh, India (I-MISS): protocol of a cluster randomized controlled trial

Feasibility assessment of crowdsourcing slogans for promoting household waste segregation in India: a cross-sectional study

Introduction

Crowdsourcing is an emerging technique to engage or access a wider set of experts and multiple stakeholders through online platforms, which might effectively be employed in waste management. Therefore, we assessed the feasibility of the crowdsourcing method to provide an alternative approach that can improve household waste segregation using an "online-slogan-contest".

Methods

The contest was promoted via targeted emails to various governmental and non-governmental organizations and through social media platforms for around 4 weeks (25 days). The entries were received through a Google form. The slogans were assessed by the experts and analyzed using content analysis methods.

Results

Total 969 entries were received from different geographic regions in India. Of that, 456 were in English and 513 in Hindi. Five themes of waste segregation emerged from the received slogans: (1) Community awareness, responsibility, and support, (2) Significance of household waste segregation, (3) Use of separate dustbins, (4) Health and well-being, and (5) Environment and sustainability.

Discussion

Crowdsourcing approaches can be used by local authorities for improving waste management approaches and are recommended as these involve a wider audience within a short time frame. Moreover, this approach is flexible and integrating crowdsourcing approaches strengthens our understanding of existing waste management activities.

Composition analysis (pick analysis) of waste generated from household: A pilot study in Ujjain city, India

Waste segregation is an essential function in improving waste management. Waste segregation not only facilitates recycling and reduces waste going to landfills, rather it can benefit our environment and human in various ways. A pick analysis of waste composition is used to characterize the household waste stream and thus can analyze the segregation rate among the residents. In addition, it can measure the actual waste sorting behaviour at the household/community level. The objective of the study was to assess feasibility of a large-scale waste composition study, identify methodological and operational challenges, and estimate the resources needed to conduct the main waste composition study in order to obtain and get indicative figures about waste generation, composition, and miss-sorted proportions. The study team went door-to-door to collect waste in colour coded bags. We also collected the socio-demographic data of the households. The collected waste was weighed and segregated to analyze the waste composition. The analysis was done among 45 households, and it was found that the per capita waste generation per day is 0.25 kg (0.24 kg from slum and 0.27 kg from non-slum). Challenges identified in conducting waste composition study were lack of standard waste fraction classifications, difficulty in recruitment of personnel to conduct study due to social taboo around waste, challenge in co-coordinating with Ujjain Municipal Corporation waste collection vehicle for collection of waste. 53 household activities were completed in 5 and half hours with INR 24685 (USD 300.5). Pick analysis could be adopted by the Ujjain Municipal Corporation after cost effective analysis to generate precise estimate of waste generation, resource recovery, efficient resource allocation and will help in future interventions and informed policy decision making to improve segregation.

An empirical investigation of household's waste separation intention: A dual-factor theory perspective

Waste separation at a household level could facilitate sustainable waste management. However, despite several efforts by the government, the adoption of household waste separation practices is still at a nascent stage. Therefore, we aim to study the factors affecting household waste separation intention (WSI). Drawing on Dual Factor Theory (DFT), two distinct sets of factors (enablers and barriers) were used to explain the WSI at the household level. This study also extended the Self Determination Theory (SDT) and Status Quo Bias (SQB) theory to broadly identify the factors and develop a conceptual model. The main study analyzed data from 494 respondents using a structural equation modeling approach. The result reveals that environmental concern, anticipated guilt, awareness of consequences, and health consciousness have a significant positive effect on WSI. In contrast, perceived inconvenience, information, and infrastructure barriers significantly negatively affect WSI. Additionally, gender and income partially moderated the studied relationships. The results offer key insights and implications for marketers and public policymakers.

Dynamics of Household Waste Segregation Behaviour in Urban Community in Ujjain, India: A Framework Analysis

Waste segregation practices must be socially acceptable, affordable, context-specific, and participatory, which is essential for promoting waste segregation. Therefore, this study explored the urban community members’ motivation, opportunity, and household waste segregation ability. We performed a qualitative study in Ujjain city, India. Ten focus group discussions and eight in-depth interviews were conducted with female and male household members in residential and slum areas. All interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed, and translated. We used the thematic framework technique using the Motivation-Opportunity-Ability-Behaviour theory for analysis. Three themes were constructed: motivation, where household members are motivated to sort waste yet fear the consequences of improper sorting; ability, where household waste segregation is rapidly gaining acceptance as a social norm; and opportunities, involving convenient facilities and a social support system for household members towards waste segregation. This study contributes to developing a knowledge base on waste segregation behaviour and a repertoire to facilitate evidence-based management and policymaking. There is a need for educational intervention and women’s self-help groups’ involvement to develop community orientation and waste segregation literacy. Finally, this study emphasizes the importance of all three behavioural change components, i.e., motivation, opportunity, and ability, in managing sustainable waste segregation practices.