An application of the theory of planned behaviour to study the influencing factors of participation in source separation of food waste

• Published in: Waste management (Elmsford) Vol. 33; no. 5; pp. 1276 - 1281
• Main Authors: Karim Ghani, Wan Azlina Wan Ab, Rusli, Iffah Farizan, Biak, Dayang Radiah Awang, Idris, Azni
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.05.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; ANAEROBIC DIGESTION; Applied sciences; BIODEGRADATION; BIOLOGICAL WASTES; Community Participation; Data Collection; Exact sciences and technology; Family Characteristics; Female; Food; Food waste; General treatment and storage processes; Households; Humans; Malaysia; Male; MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE WASTES, AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES; Middle Aged; Other wastes and particular components of wastes; Pollution; Psychological Theory; PUBLIC OPINION; Significant predictor; Sustainable waste management; Theory of planned behaviour; WASTE DISPOSAL; Waste Management - methods; Waste separation; Wastes; Young Adult; Food waste; Waste separation; Significant predictor; Households; Theory of planned behaviour; Sustainable waste management; Waste management; Composting; Waste dumping; Anaerobic digestion; Indicator
• ISSN: 0956-053X; 1879-2456
• DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2012.09.019

► Theory of planned behaviour (TPB) has been conducted to identify the influencing factors for participation in source separation of food waste using self administered questionnaires. ► The findings suggested several implications for the development and implementation of waste separation at home programme. ► The analysis indicates that the attitude towards waste separation is determined as the main predictors where this in turn could be a significant predictor of the repondent’s actual food waste separation behaviour. ► To date, none of similar have been reported elsewhere and this finding will be beneficial to local Authorities as indicator in designing campaigns to promote the use of waste separation programmes to reinforce the positive attitudes. Tremendous increases in biodegradable (food waste) generation significantly impact the local authorities, who are responsible to manage, treat and dispose of this waste. The process of separation of food waste at its generation source is identified as effective means in reducing the amount food waste sent to landfill and can be reused as feedstock to downstream treatment processes namely composting or anaerobic digestion. However, these efforts will only succeed with positive attitudes and highly participations rate by the public towards the scheme. Thus, the social survey (using questionnaires) to analyse public’s view and influencing factors towards participation in source separation of food waste in households based on the theory of planned behaviour technique (TPB) was performed in June and July 2011 among selected staff in Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor. The survey demonstrates that the public has positive intention in participating provided the opportunities, facilities and knowledge on waste separation at source are adequately prepared by the respective local authorities. Furthermore, good moral values and situational factors such as storage convenience and collection times are also encouraged public’s involvement and consequently, the participations rate. The findings from this study may provide useful indicator to the waste management authorities in Malaysia in identifying mechanisms for future development and implementation of food waste source separation activities in household programmes and communication campaign which advocate the use of these programmes.