Incentives, Assistance, and Social Sanction in Changing The Community Behavior of Waste-Management in Indonesia

Abstract

This paper examines the role of incentives, assistance, and social sanctions in shaping community behavior towards waste management in Indonesia. Combining rational choice theory with an ethnomethodological perspective, the study challenges the conventional assumption that economic condition or environmental knowledge and awareness are the primary drivers of individual/social action in waste management. Using the qualitative participatory research in the "Mentari Elok" housing complex located in the suburban area of Yogyakarta Indonesia, this study found that the behavior of the majority of residents did not relate to the economic condition or the level of education. The pattern in waste management remains conventional: throwing the garbage without sorting it first, dumping the trash in any place, or burning it in an open space. The research, which is based on qualitative data gathered through observation and assistance during community service activities, demonstrates that the lack of incentives for eco-friendly activities acts as a deterrent to sustainable waste management techniques. Furthermore, the lack of constant and quantitative assistance from social empowerment facilitators makes it more difficult to adopt good waste management behaviors. Furthermore, the lack of social sanctions affects the community's motivation to follow waste management rules. The findings add to the existing body of knowledge by emphasizing the necessity for focused interventions that address these characteristics. These insights can be used by policymakers and waste management practitioners to create policies that provide actual advantages, establish regular support programs, and employ social punishments to encourage good behavioral change. However, it is vital to recognize the study's limitations, such as its concentration on a certain cultural and socioeconomic environment. Future studies should broaden the scope to include different contexts of places and times, as well as longitudinal studies to evaluate the long-term effectiveness and sustainability of the interventions.