Behavior Of Waste Research Articles

To sort or not to sort? – Consumers’ waste behavior in public

While waste sorting in private households is considered a social norm, we still lack knowledge about individuals' waste sorting behavior in public, such as on the street, in parks or on public transport. Research on public spaces has primarily focused on littering, drawing the spotlight away from the valuable materials lost due to a lack of public waste sorting. Employing social practice theory, we conducted interviews with consumers and cleaners, observed practices, documented waste bins, and engaged with stakeholders to describe the role of materials, competencies, and ideas for performing waste sorting in public. Key findings include individuals’ use of cognitive maps to locate residual waste bins, revealing paradoxes of public waste bin designs, and a lack of responsibility for waste sorting (e.g., individuals arguing that machines can perform this task more efficiently). Bridging this knowledge gap is vital to develop targeted strategies that encourage responsible waste practices.

Thermal decomposition behaviour and kinetics of food waste and low density polyethylene during microwave copyrolysis

Thermal decomposition behaviour and kinetics of food waste and low density polyethylene during microwave copyrolysis

Experimental Investigation and Characterization of the Thermal Insulating Behavior of Municipal Solid Waste and its Constituents

Experimental Investigation and Characterization of the Thermal Insulating Behavior of Municipal Solid Waste and its Constituents

Menstrual waste behaviour of young adolescents: a theory of planned behaviour approach

ABSTRACT There is a significant rise in the pile of non-biodegradable menstrual waste. Still, the majority of the studies focused on the variety and quality of menstrual products, and only a few investigated the sustainable and safe disposal of used menstrual material. The theory of planned behaviour serves as the foundation upon which the paper constructs its theoretical framework to study menstrual waste disposal behaviour among adolescents. It finds that a variety of social contexts and circumstances influence adolescents' intentions to dispose of used menstrual products carelessly, indirectly contributing to environmental degradation. This paper is an attempt to examine the existing gap in the literature and understand the attitudes and intentions that underlie such an activity. This paper also suggests ways for policymakers and implementors to influence the behaviour of adolescents resulting in hygienic and environmentally safe disposal of menstrual waste.

Phase transformation and roasting kinetics of CIGS waste in air atmosphere

Copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) solar cells produce a lot of CIGS waste in the production process. TAK method was used to study the roasting kinetics of CIGS waste to separate and recovery harmful elements of environment. The oxidation of CIGS is different for different heating rates, oxides of various metal elements are formed at lower roasting rates, but InGaCuO4 is formed at higher roasting rates. The E of each oxidation process was obtained by FWO method and KAS method respectively. The E of element In at lower roasting rates are 104.43 KJ/mol and 112.17 KJ/mol. The E of Ga are 105.86 KJ/mol and 113.52 KJ/mol. The E of Cu are 134.46 KJ/mol and 141.35 KJ/mol. The E of InGaCuO4 were 33.45 KJ/mol and 45.53 KJ/mol. The model function of CIGS waste reaction was determined by Malek method analysis. The oxidation mechanism model of element In is No.39 and No.40 functions: Exponential law. The oxidation mechanism model of the element Ga is function No.37: Chemical reaction control, and the oxidation mechanism model of the element Cu is function No.9:3-D diffusion Zhuraalev-Lesokin-Tempelman. The mechanism model of CIGS waste higher roasting rates in second stage is function No.9:3-D diffusion Zhuraalev-Lesokin-Tempelman. The results show that the heating rate of roasting process obviously affects the oxidation behavior of CIGS waste, so it is of great significance to control the heating rate to oxidizes CuO, Ga2O3 and In2O3 in CIGS waste, and to improve the separation and recovery efficiency of elements in the subsequent process.

Computer aided flow investigation of liquid agricultural wastes

Liquid agricultural wastes serve as important fertilizers in modern agriculture but pose environmental and health risks due to high nitrogen compound content. To prevent soil and groundwater contamination, ammonia separation is required before waste application on fields. Conventional separation by stripping is difficult because of column clogging by solid waste loads. This work investigates, both experimentally and numerically, the flow behaviour of liquid agricultural waste to support the development of innovative separators based on inclined plates. The measurements were carried out in a newly developed experimental setup consisting of a liquid distributor over a plate with variable inclination angles. The influence of volumetric flow rate and inclination angles on the flow topology and liquid detachment from the edge of the plate was studied. While the impact of the flow rate was significant, no influence of the plate inclination angle could be observed. A CFD model was developed to support experimental work. Its validation with experimental data was successful, yet with some systematic deviation due to the model simplifications. The developed experimental setup and CFD model offer optimization potential for separation column internals designed for liquid agricultural wastes, with experiments providing higher accuracy and simulations offering flexibility.

Mechanical behavior, petrography and microstructural analysis of mining waste recycled bricks

Mechanical behavior, petrography and microstructural analysis of mining waste recycled bricks

Lifestyle construction on Instagram media on consumer behavior of students at the Faculty of Da'wah and Communication

ABSTRACT Teenagers' playtime and study time, especially students, are influenced by advances in communication technology, both positively and negatively. Students use social media to communicate with friends, share homework, play games, and/or fill their free time, to do college assignments. This study aims to examine how students of the Islamic Communication and Broadcasting Study Program at UIN Sumatera Utara use Instagram in their daily lives related to the wasteful behavior of students. The method used in the study is qualitative carried out through observation by conducting direct observations, interviews conducted through interaction, and documentation made in references from literature related to the focus of the study. The results of the study indicate that Instagram plays an important role in shaping the lifestyle of consumptive students. Students are often influenced by content that displays a luxurious lifestyle, which encourages them to shop for unnecessary items and try to display an ideal image on social media. This finding is consistent with the theory of social construction which states that social media users can create reality through interaction on the platform. This study highlights the use of Instagram social media which can influence student behavior that tends to be consumptive, although this is not entirely a problem caused by the presence of social media in the current era. Keywords: Social Media, Instagram, Behavior.

Assessment of Behaviour among Households towards Solid Waste Management in GHMC

Background: Rapid urbanization has made domestic waste management a crucial environmental challenge in Hyderabad, which generates 5,500 to 6,000 metric tons of waste daily. Despite regulations, improper disposal practices persist, posing risks to public health and sustainability. Research Methodology: This mixed-methods study used surveys of 404 households and secondary data to assess household waste management behavior in GHMC. Statistical tools like Chi-square tests and ANOVA were used to analyze the influence of demographic factors. Results: Significant variations in waste management practices were found across demographics. Improper disposal methods, such as roadside dumping (mean = 3.43, p-value = 0.13) and burning (mean = 3.17, p-value = 0.572), are prevalent among older adults and higher-income households (mean = 3.44, p-value = 0.002). Conversely, younger individuals (<20 years, mean = 3.36, p-value = 0.084) and lower-income groups (<₹10,000, mean = 3.13, p-value = 0.805) show better adherence to sustainable practices like the 3R's and composting (mean = 3.32, p-value = 0.013). Education level also influences waste management behavior, with primary education correlating with better practices (mean = 3.41, p-value = 0.315). Conclusion: Targeted interventions are needed to address improper disposal practices among older and higher- income groups. Positive trends in waste facility utilization and e-waste disposal are noted, but burning and burying waste remain common. Enhanced educational campaigns and infrastructure improvements are essential for sustainable waste management. Keywords: Solid Waste Management, Household Behavior, Urbanization, Environmental Sustainability, Waste Segregation, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), Recycling, Waste Reduction, Education, Public Health.

Research on the Optimization of Anti-food Waste Behavior in China

Research on the Optimization of Anti-food Waste Behavior in China

Gambaran Sanitasi Sekolah Dasar Inpres Palsatu dan Sekolah Dasar Negeri Palsatu pada Kelurahan Manutapen Kecamatan Alak Kota Kupang

School sanitation, including the provision of clean water, toilet facilities, hand washing with soap (CTPS), waste bin management, has a big impact. When school sanitation facilities and infrastructure do not meet health standards, lack of Clean and Healthy Living Behavior, as well as lack of sanitation management schools, has negative impact on student health. The aim of the research to describe the sanitation situation at SDI Palsatu and SDN Palsatu using descriptive research methods. The research was conducted in January-February 2024 with a sample of 30 students and principals from each school. The results of research show that condition of clean water supply facilities at SDI Palsatu and SDN Palsatu meets requirements with percentage of 80% and 100%, the condition of latrines at SDI Palsatu and SDN Palsatu does not meet requirements with percentage of 45.45% and 36.36%, the condition of CTPS at SDI Palsatu and SDN Palsatu do not meet requirements with a percentage of 33%, Conditions of waste disposal facilities at SDI Palsatu and SDN Palsatu o not meet requirements with percentage of 20%, The behavior of using latrines for urinating/defecating at SDI Palsatu and SDN Palsatu does not meet requirements with percentages of 54.44% and 55.55%. CTPS behavior at SDI Palsatu and SDN Palsatu meets requirements with percentage of 82% and 78%. Waste management behavior at SDI Palsatu and SDN Palsatu does not meet requirements with percentage of 33.33% and 26.66%. Sanitation management at SDI Palsatu and SDN Palsatu is good with percentage of 71.42% and 85.71%.

The Driving Factors of Food Waste in Chinese Urban Households: A Qualitative Study Based on Grounded Theory

Food waste has become an increasingly common and serious global problem, affecting the guarantee of food security in China and the sustainable development of the national agricultural and food system. Urban households are the main source of food waste on the consumer side. Given China’s unique culture, economy, and social environment, the drivers of food waste in urban households need to consider broader social, psychological, and situational factors in order to provide a basis for formulating and implementing targeted policy measures. This article conducts a grounded theoretical analysis of semi-structured interview data from 56 urban households in China and constructs a driving factor model for food waste in urban households in the Chinese context. Research has found that the influencing factor system of food waste in Chinese urban households includes seven interrelated main categories. Among them, risk perception has a direct effect on responsibility awareness and behavioral tendencies, responsibility awareness and environmental pressure have a direct effect on behavioral tendencies, behavioral tendencies have a direct effect on behavioral choices, perception barriers play a moderating role in the impact of risk perception on responsibility awareness and behavioral tendencies, and behavioral constraints play a moderating role in the impact of behavioral tendencies on behavioral choices. This study enriches the research on the mechanism of food waste behavior in Chinese households, providing scientific basis for the formulation of intervention strategies for food waste in Chinese households, and also providing reference for revealing the mechanism of food waste behavior in other countries with similar cultural backgrounds.

Examining the determinants of food waste behavior in China at the consumer level

Food loss and waste are global problems for food security, as one-third of all food produced globally does not reach the consumer’s table. These numbers seem unreasonable when the data presented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in 2021 accounts for more than 800 million undernourished people and about 2.3 billion without access to adequate food throughout the year. This study examines the determinants of food waste behavior at the consumer level in China, the most populous country in the world. The survey used data from 3,857 online questionnaires of families living in selected Chinese metropolitan areas across all provinces. The research methodology used an ordered multinomial logit model to estimate the impact of the explanatory variables on the frequency and amount of household food waste. The results showed that food waste increased with income, age, and education but at a decreasing rate. Additionally, the demographic characteristics of households, food planning, and meal preparation had a statistically significant influence on food waste. The findings of this study, therefore, provide evidence that household food waste is highly dependent on people's behavior, and its reduction may depend on public policies and educational campaigns to make families aware of the problem.

From Attitude to Behavior: The Effect of Residents' Food Waste Attitudes on Their Food Waste Behaviors in Shanghai.

Preventing food waste is important. Analyzing the effects of food waste attitudes on urban residents' waste production behaviors is necessary to reduce food waste. As Shanghai is a mega-city with a population of 24 million people, once food is adequately supplied, more attention is paid to the safety of food in terms of quantity, quality, and nutrition. COVID-19 gave a shock to the food supply in Shanghai, which in turn resulted in food waste behavior. The moderating effect of pandemic during the COVID-19 is one that has rarely been mentioned in previous studies. An investigation of urban residents was conducted in Shanghai. A total of 1030 valid questionnaires were collected in October 2020. This study examined the influence of food waste attitudes on food waste behavior under the moderating effects of pandemic expectations, quantity safety, quality safety, and price stability using a multivariate ordered probit model. The results show that food waste attitudes had a significant negative effect on food waste behavior at a p < 0.01 level of significance, which means that the more people feel shame about food waste, the less food waste they will have. The interaction coefficient between food waste attitudes and pandemic expectations was positive at a p < 0.1 level of significance. This paper concludes with strategies for dealing with food waste in the future.

Restaurant waiting staff's intention to dissuade customers from over-ordering: an extended theory of planned behaviour

PurposeThis study aims to validate the impact of waiting staff’s attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control on customer dissuasion from over-ordering and identify their antecedents using an extended theory of planned behaviour.Design/methodology/approachWe selected three categories of restaurants (30 in total, including fine dining, casual dining, and fast food) in Macao and Zhuhai (China) for conducting the survey using a purposive sampling approach. The respondents were waiting staff who took customers’ orders in the past three months. In total, 393 valid responses were used for a structural-equation-modelling analysis.FindingsThe results show that restaurant waiting staff’s attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control have positive effects on their intention to dissuade customers from over-ordering. Our study further reveals that perceived behavioural control is far more influential than attitudes and subjective norms on restaurant employees’ intentions to intervene with over-ordering. We also validate seven antecedents, including environmental concern and communication for attitudes, peer influence, supervisor influence, and organisational support for subjective norms, and self-efficacy and training for perceived behavioural control.Originality/valueThe food-waste literature tends to focus on consumers in home and restaurant settings and has paid scarce attention to the role of restaurant waiting staff in intervening in consumers’ waste behaviours. We fill in this research gap by revealing a formation mechanism for waiting staff’s intention to dissuade over-ordering.

Co-pyrolysis behavior of municipal solid waste and food waste residue: A thermogravimetric study to discern synergistic effect

Effective solid waste disposal necessitates suitable combination and clean conversion technologies to maximize resource utilization. Thus, this study investigates the behavior of co-pyrolysis in municipal solid waste (MSW) and food waste (FW) via thermogravimetric analysis, aiming to discern synergistic effects and optimize waste to energy conversion. The impacts of heating rate and blending ratios were evaluated under an inert N2 atmosphere, within a temperature range of 30–900℃, during single and combined pyrolysis processes respectively. Results revealed slight variations in weight loss patterns and thermal decomposition behavior. When heating rate increased from 10 to 30℃.min−1, decomposition process delayed, resulting in higher initial (Ti), peak (TP), and final (Tf) temperatures due to inadequate heat transfer. As food waste increased, mass loss rose and favorable synergistic effect was observed at 20 % FW during medium temperatures, while other blends showed inhibitory effects. The pyrolytic index (D) rose nonlinearly from 6.29 × 10−7 to 7.72 × 10−7 with a higher FW proportion, peaking at 20 % FW, suggesting an optimal MSW and FW mixing ratio. This blend also exhibited the lowest activation energy, indicating a more efficient thermal decomposition process. Those outcomes offer crucial insights for optimizing co-pyrolysis systems and provide essential information for co-disposal of MSW and FW, potentially reducing pollutant emissions and enhancing waste to energy conversion.

Look-smell-taste labels on food date marking: Assessing their effectiveness for reducing food waste at a consumer level as part of the European Green Deal

The frequent misinterpretation of “best before” labels among consumers is linked to substantial amounts of food waste generated in the US and the EU. To counteract this problem, the European Commission plans to revise current regulations of date marking. Among other initiatives, it is considered to use “Look-Smell-Taste” (LST) labels on food packaging, which depict visual cues motivating consumers to engage in sensory food assessments. Against this background, this paper aims to investigate the LST labels’ effectiveness in reducing consumers’ food waste behavior using an online- and a food lab experiment. The studies examine selected date marking options varying in their wording and presence of the LST label with regard to their potential (1) to increase the overdate acceptance and actual product use, as well as (2) to motivate the sensory assessment of dairy products that passed the “best before” date. Findings show that LST labels did not significantly increase the overdate acceptance, the actual use of expired products, or consumers’ engagement in sensory assessment. Participants did however indicate their preference for date marking options with LST labels over text-only options. The paper provides insights into current and future attempts to reduce food waste related to date marking and recommendations for respective revisions as part of the European Green Deal.

Food waste behaviors of the families of the Cilento Bio-District in comparison with the national data: elements for policy actions

Food waste behaviors of the families of the Cilento Bio-District in comparison with the national data: elements for policy actions

Factors Related to Food Waste Disposal Behavior of Students in the Dormitory of STIKes Santa Elisabeth Medan

Food waste occurs when perfectly edible food is discarded for various reasons. Factors contributing to food waste include menu neglect, excess preparation, unappealing appearance, and inaccurate perceptions of taste. Reducing food waste can be achieved by valuing food as an essential aspect of human life and managing food consumption effectively. Based on a survey conducted in dormitories, the significant issue identified is the daily abundance of leftovers, including 4-6 buckets of vegetables, tempeh, and tofu, mainly due to the food needing to meet the students' tastes. This study examines the factors influencing food waste disposal behaviour among students at the STIKes Santa Elisabeth Medan dormitory in 2023. The study utilized a cross-sectional approach combined with correlational research and involved 84 students living in the dormitory. The research instruments included a Food Waste Questionnaire and a Food Scales Questionnaire. Data analysis involved using Chi-square tests to determine the relationship between independent variables of food appearance and taste factors and the dependent variable of food waste behaviour. The results revealed a significant relationship between unattractive food appearance and high food waste, with 90.4% demonstrating high waste and 9.6% showing low waste, as confirmed by a Chi-square value of 455 and a p-value of 0.05. In conclusion, this study found a notable association between unattractive food appearance and the disposal behaviour of dormitory students regarding food waste.

Thrifting Consumer Communication Experience in Yogyakarta

Thrifting, the increasingly popular activity of shopping for used clothes, came under scrutiny when the government banned the import of used goods. This study aims to analyze thrifting consumer communication experiences regarding prohibiting imports of used goods and their impact on local industries. In the phenomenological approach, the researcher explores the meaning of thrifting consumers' experiences related to popular culture and wasteful behavior. Studies show that thrifting as a shopping alternative can help overcome the problem of turning off expensive and low-quality local goods. This is because thrifting provides foreign goods at lower prices and good quality. Even so, the issue of local products of inferior quality and expensive remains an obstacle that must be overcome. Possible solutions include improving the quality of local products, providing education and information to the public, and improving the quality of thrifting services and products. Thus, this problem can be overcome with solutions from the government, local producers, and consumers so that it can positively impact the economy and the environment.