Waste separation intention of households in Sri Lanka

Abstract

The effective practice of waste separation at the source is crucial for achieving sustainable development and promoting the reduce, reuse, and recycle concept. This practice should be adopted by both households and business organisations. The primary objective of this study is to investigate the factors that influence the intention of waste separation at the household level in Sri Lanka. For this purpose, a random selection of 388 households representing the entire country was undertaken. Independent variables, including attitude, perceived cost benefits, moral norms, inconvenience, and rules and regulations, were examined in relation to their impact on the dependent variable, which was the intention of waste separation. A 5-point Likert scale questiommaire was utilised to assess each of these variables. The methodology employed in this study included principal component analysis, factor analysis, and Structural Equation Model (SEM) to establish the underlying model. The results of the analysis revealed the significance of attitude, perceived cost benefits, and moral norms at a 5% significance level. Interestingly, although inconvenience exhibited a negative influence on intention, its significance was not established. Furthermore, while existing literature commonly attributed local government rules and regulations as a significant factor, the model indicated a positive and insignificant relationship. In conclusion, this study underscores the importance of positive attitudes, perceived benefits in terms of cost, and adherence to moral norms in fostering the intention for waste separation. Despite the negative impact of inconvenience not reaching statistical significance, it remains a noteworthy consideration. Additionally, the unexpected positive and insignificant relationship with local government rules and regulations prompts further exploration.