AN ASSESSMENT ON HOUSEHOLD ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOR TOWARDS HOUSEHOLD SOLID WASTE DISCARD AND RECYCLING IN THE MEKONG DELTA REGION - SOUTHERN VIETNAM

Abstract

The aims of this study were to explore and assess the household behavior towards recyclable waste discard and household attitudes towards good waste management in the Mekong delta region . southern Vietnam. A questionnaire survey was carried out in 100 households in Can Tho city. The existing household habits for waste discard, storage, collection, and recycling activities were clarified in order to identify the priority problems of these activities. Regarding household behavior towards recycling activities and the purchase behavior of households for avoidable wastes (e.g., plastic carry bags, container and packaging, expired/residual food waste) were explored. The household behavior for reusing the used valuable things instead of discarding and for consuming the products or goods made from recycling materials was also examined. Besides, household attitudes towards good waste management were partly explored; the results found that the neighbor s view and social norms seemed to work for keeping order in waste collection and discard activities. Moreover, the authors also analyzed the interrelationships among the household behavior towards recycling activities, the household attitudes towards good waste management, and individual attributes such as the education level, urbanization level, income, age, gender, and working status. It was found that household attitudes towards good waste management correlated to household behavior towards recycling activities; education level and urbanization level were identified as relevant factors for enhancing waste recycling activities and good environmental attitudes of households.