Factors Related to Using Styrofoam Containers for Food Packaging

Abstract

Styrofoam waste is included in the 5th largest category in the world. Plastic consumption in Indonesia is 17 kg per year. The amount of waste heap in Serang City is around 1625 m3/day. Taktakan Health Center occupies the 3rd largest waste producer in Serang City, and the waste increases every year. This study aims to determine the factors related to the using of styrofoam containers as food packaging for food vendors in the Taktakan Health Center, Serang City in 2020. This research used a quantitative analytic, cross-sectional study design. The population was 178 food sellers, and the sample size was 95 respondents with simple random sampling. The data collection was done using a questionnaire. For data analysis univariate and bivariate analysis with a Chi-square statistical test were used. The results of this study indicate that there is a relationship between knowledge (P-value = 0.001), availability of packaging (P-value = 0.043) and the use of styrofoam containers. Respondents with less knowledge had a risk of 4.694 times the possibility of using styrofoam. Suggestions for food sellers are to reduce the use of styrofoam containers for food packaging.
 Keywords: attitude, availability of styrofoam, food packaging, knowledge