Rural Residents' Awareness of Environmental Protection and Waste Classification Behavior in Jiangsu, China: An Empirical Analysis.

Aijun Liu,Hang Xiong,Huixin Wang,Maurice Osewe

doi:10.3390/ijerph17238928

Abstract

Achieving waste classification and environmental protection awareness assists in enhancing the rural ecological environment, improves the quality of the rural residents’ life, and augments the rate of reusing resources within the rural setups. In order to study the factors influencing rural waste classification and environmental protection awareness, we conducted a project among rural residents of Jiangsu, China. We used both the logistic regression model and the ordinary least squares model to achieve the goals of this paper. Similarly, we found that the households’ level of education influenced the rural residents’ decision to classify waste and to protect the environment regarding whether a household consists of a village cadre; the availability of public waste collection facilities; the distance between households and the waste collection points; whether the waste is picked, assorted, and collected locally; and the cost of waste disposal. In light of all these factors, we recommended that the authorities should increase the rural residents’ waste classification and environmental protection awareness. Also, through the local government, the national government should strengthen and sustain rural waste disposal funds. Finally, there should be stringent laws and regulations outlining the role of the rural residents regarding waste classification and environmental protection awareness.

Highlights

China has experienced fast economic development during the last several decades, a trend that has given rise to unprecedented solid waste production
A great number of rural residents are unaware of the environmental protection and household waste classification
Based on the literature and survey data collected in Jiangsu Province, China, this study offers both anecdotal and empirical evidence of factors enhancing rural waste classification and environmental protection awareness

Summary

Introduction

China has experienced fast economic development during the last several decades, a trend that has given rise to unprecedented solid waste production. China became the largest solid waste generator in 2004 and is projected to have the fastest and largest waste growth historically [1]. The authors of [2] observed that the per capita annual growth rate of solid waste generation in China ranges from 8% to 10%. A further increase in economic growth would lead to a greater increase in the rate of solid waste production. A great number of rural residents are unaware of the environmental protection and household waste classification. The rural population totals approximately 675 million people residing in about 40,000 small towns [1]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion