Effects of Source Separation Education on Solid Waste Reduction in Developing Countries (A Case Study: Ardabil, Iran)

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to create a source separation and waste reduction culture in Ardabil city in a randomized systematic way. The present semi-experimental study was conducted in two regions of Ardabil city. The number of sample in each region was 100 (50 as control, 50 as case population). In order to determine the effect of the profile of households in regions 1 and 2 and the effect of training on the amount of produced waste and the increase of awareness on source waste separation, two-step sampling, before and after training, was conducted in both groups. Beside a questionnaire also was completed before and after training. The results showed the statistically significant relationship between the income and reduction of produced waste in region 1 and 2. In the case group, level of awareness in regions 1 and 2 was changed from low-medium (first step) to medium-high (second step). Also, amount of produced waste was reduced in second steps in the case group. This result indicates the effect of training as an intervention factor, on waste management. Therefore, the desirable education system should be selected according to the status of society and the cultural, social, and economic conditions of each region and it is advisable to use specialized staff with health and environmental views to train citizens in order to source waste separation and waste management.