Abstract
This article uses a modified model of the theory of planned behaviour to assess salient beliefs of household heads towards the separation of municipal solid waste at its source in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. Structural equation modelling was used to analyse the responses of 598 household heads to a questionnaire in a cross-sectional design. Whilst the default model produced an acceptable fit to the data and explained 37% of the variance in households’ intention to separate waste at its source, the modified model with moral norms as an additional construct fitted the data excellently, explaining 52% of the variance in intention. Moral norms and perceived behavioural control were the predominant latent constructs to influence intentions. Control beliefs related to the availability of waste receptacles, provision of regular waste collection services, and access to knowledge of the separation process had the greatest tendency to facilitate households’ intentions. Pro-environmental interventions designed in a participatory manner to promote moral correctness, responsibility, respect for the environment, and positive affect may empower households to separate waste at its source. This research contributes to the development of a municipal solid waste strategy in the region, and may further support research in waste diversion and the circular economy in other jurisdictions.
Highlights
Separation of municipal solid waste (MSW) at its source before collection is crucial to integrated and sustainable waste management [1]; it supports the recovery of clean recyclable materials, and mitigates the climate change burden of MSW through the diversion of biodegradable waste from landfills [2]
The results show that the modified structural equation model provided an improvement in the prediction of household heads’ intentions compared to the default theory of planned behaviour (TPB) model, both in the explained variance in intentions to separate MSW at its source, and in the fit indices
The outcome of this study contributes to an understanding of the beliefs of households towards MSW separation at its source in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana
Summary
Separation of municipal solid waste (MSW) at its source before collection is crucial to integrated and sustainable waste management [1]; it supports the recovery of clean recyclable materials, and mitigates the climate change burden of MSW through the diversion of biodegradable waste from landfills [2]. The rising rate of urbanisation and scarcity in urban land space, coupled with rising MSW generation rates and increasing biodegradable and recyclable waste streams [15–17], are triggering a new and growing interest amongst researchers, policymakers, and funding institutions to work together towards the attainment of functional solid waste management (SWM) systems in developing countries [18], with a particular emphasis on waste diversion from landfills. Those charged with MSWM have a new impetus to divert decision making towards the separation of MSW at the source for environmentally friendly valorisation and recycling purposes [8,19,20]
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