Does smartphone use encourage farmers to participate in centralized household waste disposal?

Abstract

The centralization of household waste disposal represents a significant stride toward achieving ecological viability in rural China. This initiative can substantially alleviate the grassroots government's burden of managing rural household waste. The proliferation and utilization of smartphones, a powerful tool that can expedite and reduce the cost of imparting environmental protection knowledge to producers, is a beacon of hope in the fight against waste. This article, utilizing Probit modeling and micro-survey data from 2126 agricultural households in China, examines the effect of smartphone usage on farmers' participation in centralized household waste disposal. The findings indicate that smartphone usage significantly enhances farmers' engagement in centralized domestic waste disposal, motivating them to participate actively. Notably, this finding persists even after robustness tests. Further heterogeneity analyses indicate that older and low-income populations exhibit a more pronounced level of engagement in centralized household waste disposal. This paper presents these findings and underscores the importance of the proposed policies to enhance farmers' consciousness regarding the environmental implications of smartphone usage. These policies are not just suggestions but urgent and necessary steps towards a more technologically advanced and efficient waste management system, and their implementation is crucial for the future of waste management.