The occurrence of zoonotic diseases on livestock farms, especially infectious diseases such as echinococcosis, poses a severe threat to surrounding ecosystems and the health of nearby residents. It is crucial to take proper measures to increase farmers' knowledge, awareness and practices regarding zoonoses. Cognitive interventions are widely used in the control of epidemics. Using Chinese livestock farming as a case study, this study examined the effect of cognitive intervention (i.e., training and dissemination) on farmers' pro-environmental behaviors, with the key dependent variable including both zoonosis-prevention behaviors (e.g., dog deworming and lamb vaccination) and daily management behaviors (e.g., household waste and sewage handling). Based on survey data collected from 496 livestock farmers over four years in Qinghai province, China, the study employed a two-way fixed-effects regression model to explore both the direct and indirect effects of zoonotic cognitive intervention on farmers' pro-environmental behaviors, and also explored the mediating effects of zoonotic knowledge and perceptions of environment. The findings reveal that: (1) Zoonotic cognitive interventions significantly improved farmers' behaviors in preventing and controlling zoonotic diseases. (2) The interventions generated positive indirect effects on other pro-environmental behaviors, particularly proper disposal of livestock waste and household garbage. (3) Increased knowledge on zoonosis, as well as pollution awareness were key mechanisms linking interventions to behavioral changes, and (4) the effects were heterogeneously stronger among less-educated farmers and in regions with lower epidemic prevalence and stricter ecological protection policies. These results highlight the policy relevance of incorporating cognitive interventions into rural public health and environmental management programs, providing new evidence to support sustainable livestock farming and inform integrated strategies for health and agricultural policy.

Introduction Household waste segregation is a central pillar of sustainable urban waste management, yet its everyday implementation in small cities in a low- to middle-income country like India remains uneven despite clear policy mandates and widespread awareness. This qualitative study examined how waste segregation is organised, negotiated, and stabilised in practice across three small cities in the country: Datia (Madhya Pradesh), Deoria (Uttar Pradesh), and Balasore (Odisha), selected to reflect diverse socio-cultural and infrastructural contexts. Methods Using an interpretive approach inspired by phenomenological design, 24 focus group discussions and 12 in-depth interviews were conducted with community residents and sanitation service providers. Data were audio-recorded, transcribed, and thematically analysed in MAXQDA using a reflexive approach. Results Five interrelated themes emerged, capturing how segregation practices were shaped by the temporal rhythms of daily life, lived material infrastructures, social logics and informal value systems, frontline sanitation workers’ mediation, and flows of institutional legitimacy. Rather than functioning as a stable household behaviour, segregation emerged as a situational accomplishment, continuously negotiated at the interface of household routines, collection practices, and governance arrangements. City-level contrasts revealed that clearer procedural design, women-led frontline engagement, and sustained mediation supported more stable practices in Balasore, while procedural ambiguity and uneven service signals in Datia and Deoria contributed to conditional and symbolic compliance. Discussion The findings demonstrated that persistent gaps between policy intent and everyday practice arise less from deficits in awareness and more from misalignments between service design and lived realities. The study underscores the limitations of standardised, metro-derived, technology-intensive waste management models and highlights the need for small-city policies that align service delivery with everyday routines, recognise informal waste practices, strengthen frontline mediation, and build institutional legitimacy through visible and credible waste flows.

Household waste management in residential areas often relies on prohibition signage as an environmental communication tool, yet its effectiveness in shaping residents’ compliance remains uneven. This study examines how prohibition signage operates as a symbolic form of environmental communication and how residents interpret and respond to it in everyday waste management practices. Using a qualitative case study approach, the research was conducted in the Villa Kintamani residential area, Tamansari Village, Setu Subdistrict, Bekasi Regency. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, non-participant observation, and analysis of community documents, and were analyzed thematically using a symbolic interactionist framework. The findings reveal that prohibition signage does not function as a self-evident or universally binding rule. Instead, its meaning is constructed through social interaction, shaped by perceived legitimacy of authority, situational and spatial contexts, and collective experiences within the community. Compliance tends to emerge when signage is interpreted as representing shared norms and collective responsibility, while signage perceived as an external or impersonal control mechanism results in situational or inconsistent adherence. By contrasting these findings with cognitive–linear models of signage effectiveness, the study demonstrates that residents’ compliance is a socially negotiated outcome rather than a direct response to visual instruction. The study contributes theoretically by extending symbolic interactionism into environmental communication research and offers practical insights for designing more participatory and context-sensitive waste management communication strategies.

Eggshells are a common type of kitchen waste that are often left unused, despite their high calcium content. Calcium plays a vital role in supporting plant growth, particularly in the agricultural sector. Based on this potential, the present study aims to investigate the use of eggshells as the primary ingredient in the production of nutrient-rich, organic fertilizer. Organic fertilizer made from eggshells provides an environmentally friendly alternative to meet the nutritional needs of food crops, particularly amid the growing demand for organic fertilizers. This research adopts a qualitative approach, with data collected through interviews with MSME (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises) plant sellers in Jakarta to understand their needs and the potential for using organic fertilizers. The production process involves relatively simple steps but requires a lengthy fermentation period. The findings indicate that eggshells can be transformed into effective organic fertilizer with high practical value for the agricultural sector. This study is expected to provide an innovative solution to address the demand for organic fertilizers while simultaneously reducing unprocessed household waste, thereby contributing to the reduction of domestic waste in Indonesia.

Recycling gains and material losses: A panel analysis of household waste trends in a decade of disruption

Waste separation behavior: A field study on information interventions and underlying mechanisms.

Background: The paper is an analysis of household waste management in the Awutu Senya East District of Ghana with a focus on the challenges that have been presented by the accelerated urbanisation, population increase and changing consumption components. Since the volume and complexity of waste is compounded by these factors, it is becoming important that proper management is maintained with respect to the health of people and environmental sustainability. Methods: The research design employed in the study utilises a quantitative descriptive approach, surveying 1,500 households to determine the types of waste produced, disposal practices, and the attitudes of households towards the available waste management services. Findings: Food scraps constitute the largest proportion of household waste in the district. More than 60% of respondents rely on open dumping at landfills and informal dumpsites due to limited and inconsistent formal collection services. This practice contributes to environmental pollution and increased public health risks, particularly vector-borne diseases. Although most households regularly dispose of their waste, dissatisfaction remains high because of irregular collection schedules, inadequate infrastructure, and weak management systems, indicating a gap between waste generation and service effectiveness. Conclusion: The study highlights the urgent need for integrated waste management strategies involving improved infrastructure, reliable collection services, community education, and active public participation. These efforts are necessary to enhance environmental health and promote sustainable waste management. However, the findings are based solely on self-reported survey data without observational validation. Novelty/Originality of this article: Despite this limitation, the findings provide practical guidance for promoting sustainable waste practices, including reducing open dumping, encouraging recycling, and strengthening community participation in environmentally responsible waste management.

The city of Sikasso is facing an alarming situation regarding the management of biomedical waste, caused by the multiplication of private health facilities. As a result, biomedical waste is often found in neighborhood dumps and sometimes mixed into household waste containers of certain public structures, whose contents are then sent to the public landfill. This situation poses a major risk to both human health and the environment of the city. The objective of this work is to carry out a comparative study on the modes of biomedical waste management between the private and public sectors (Clinics and CSCOMs), and to propose concrete recommendations for more effective, sustainable, and safe management of biomedical solid waste in Sikasso. The adopted methodology consisted of a literature review, followed by field surveys through questionnaires on biomedical solid waste management. The sample was exhaustive, covering all health facilities in the city of Sikasso, including 12 CSCOMs, 8 Clinics, and the CSREF. The study results revealed that 90.5% of facilities practice waste sorting at the source, 14.3% of private clinics have not appointed a person responsible for waste management, 85.7% of facilities have manuals on waste management procedures, and 37.5% of clinics do not practice waste transportation to specialized facilities ensured by GIEs as a disposal method and do not have an anatomical waste pit. To address the environmental and health problems generated by this waste, health centers, especially private clinics, must comply with biomedical waste management standards, and the municipal authorities must become more involved in the management of private facilities.

Abstract Recycling polyolefins such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) has become increasingly important due to the growing volume of plastic wastes, particularly from short-lived packaging and consumer products. These materials are valuable because of their semi-crystalline nature, which enables their use in a wide range of applications. Pigments are colouring agents that generally provide the desired colour effects on virgin plastics, while influence plastics microstructures and consequently, their ultimate mechanical properties. Similarly, the incorporation of pigments into recycled plastics can also influence crystallization and affect mechanical and thermal properties, which are essential for maintaining product quality and stability. However, these effects have not yet been extensively investigated in the literature, particularly for recycled polypropylene (r-PP) and recycled polyethylene (r-PE). Therefore, this study examines the effects of red and black pigments on shrinkage, crystallization behaviour and mechanical properties of r-PP and r-HDPE, sourced from single-use packaging household waste. The effects of both pigments were more pronounced in r-PP than in r-HDPE. The red pigment caused an increase in shrinkage in both r-PP (~0.13%) and r-HDPE (~0.08%) compared to non-pigmented samples, while the black pigment had a minimal effect. X-rd curves showed β-crystals and DSC analysis revealed nucleation effects in red-pigmented r-PP. For r-HDPE, the red pigment showed a linear relationship with increased shrinkage and crystallinity. Red-pigmented r-PP had lower tensile modulus and higher strain, while black-pigmented r-PP showed the opposite. This could be due to β-crystals in red-pigmented r-PP. Both pigments affected tensile properties in r-HDPE based on crystallinity. These findings are useful to process pigments in r-PE or r-PP based products.

In Vietnam, individuals and households must classify domestic solid waste into 3 groups before transferring it to collection and transportation units, as stipulated in the Law on Environmental Protection (2020). In order to take advantage of the superior capabilities of deep learning, this paper builds a custom lightweight model that is light enough but has high accuracy to be embedded in edge devices with the aim of supporting people in classifying household waste at source in compliance with the Environmental Protection Law of Vietnam. To develop a system to help people classify household waste, a new research method based on deep learning algorithms is proposed in this study to build a lightweight model that can be easily embedded in edge devices. The experimental results show that the proposed model is highly effective in implementing waste classification support systems, proven with accuracy value and model file size of 0.915 and 6.2 megabytes, respectively.

Environmental pollution and the growing volume of industrial and household waste remain a serious global problem. Large-scale waste includes soils and filter materials contaminated with petroleum products and oils. Significant volumes are also generated during the regeneration of lubricating oils: 80–140 kg of spent mineral sorbent is produced for every ton of purified oil. Due to the complexity and high cost of regenerating such materials, the need to find alternative methods for their processing is increasing. This paper proposes using clay waste, used in the regeneration of machine oils, as a raw material for producing sorption material. It was found that heating the spent waste, saturated with petroleum products, to 400 °C leads to a significant change in the material structure and the formation of an organomineral sorbent. Derivatographic analysis revealed the sequential removal of moisture, decomposition of organic components, and destruction of hydrocarbons. Energy-dispersive X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the formation of a carbon layer on the particle surface, consistent with data on the modification of similar waste. The resulting material was found to exhibit hydrophobic properties and high sorption capacity: total oil absorption capacity for motor oil is 1.95 g/g, and oil absorption capacity in an aqueous emulsion is 205 mg/g.

Introduction Researchers increasingly use citizen science to collect data in contexts where traditional research methodologies are not possible, such as household settings. A growing area of inquiry examines whether participating in citizen science programs affects the citizen scientists themselves. Methods In this study we assess whether participating in a citizen science project ( n = 133) changed participants’ beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors related to household food waste. Results Using paired pre-post survey data, we found significant improvements in attitudes, behavioral beliefs, normative beliefs and perceived behavioral control related to reducing food waste. Participants also reported adopting new behaviors that support sustainability and reducing food waste. Discussion Our findings contribute new evidence that citizen science can use used not only as a data collection method, but also as a valuable behavior change intervention for reducing food waste.

In the current global context, the circular economy has gained significant importance as a pathway towards sustainable development. At the core of circular economy strategies lie circular behaviours, individual and collective actions that support resource efficiency, waste reduction and local consumption. Increasingly, these behaviours are believed to influence and be influenced by individual- and community-level characteristics, particularly resilience. This study aims to deepen the understanding of the existing relations and dynamics through a nationally representative survey conducted in Romania, involving over 1200 respondents. The survey collected data on various circular behaviours and resilience capacity, at both individual and community levels. Findings reveal that both individual and community resilience are positively associated with circular behaviours, particularly the practices of sorting recyclables and reducing household waste. More interestingly, rural and urban environments display different behavioural patterns. In rural areas, the most significant contributor to resilience is the behaviour involving the reduction of resources, while in urban areas, behaviours such as buying local products and sorting waste show the strongest positive associations with resilience. The study also highlights an important generational trend: individuals aged 31–60, the core working-age population, are more actively engaged in circular behaviours than both younger and older cohorts. This suggests that circular engagement, at least for some particular behaviours, is driven less by environmental values and more by economic pragmatism and local ties. Based on these findings, the paper offers a set of recommendations for policymakers aiming to strengthen circular economy strategies through targeted behavioural interventions. Emphasis is placed on initiatives in regional contexts and key demographic segments to maximise impact.

The condition of densely populated areas, suburbs and 3T areas (underdeveloped, outermost, frontier) have gaps in meeting primary needs such as drinking water which is the most important human need. Objectives: Density of population and limited land for PDAM water pipelines are not accessible and are still often constrained. This includes water conditions in densely populated urban areas and urban suburbs that are not covered by PDAMs and 3T areas which are completely unreachable by clean water providers so that the water produced is polluted with household waste, groundwater exploitation and the high rate of population growth and migration to urban areas. Methodology: The research method is quantitative and qualitative methods. Qualitative information obtained from respondents related to preliminary research that is generalization of the object under study. Finding: The problem is still considered a local problem so that the solution is never complete and the concerns of people in densely populated urban areas perceive PDAM as a provider of drinking water using chemicals that have an impact on body condition compared to healthy drinking water sources originating from the soil. Conclusion: From these problems, one of the solutions is to create a source of drinking water in densely populated urban areas by utilizing solar energy for communities around densely populated urban areas, as well as for 3T communities where there is no energy source.

Introduction: Waste management is a major environmental and health challenge on a global scale. The objective of this study is to assess the health risks associated with household waste management activities on the health of workers at the Gbegamey transfer center. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among workers at the transfer center over a period from June 12 to 27, 2025. A non-probabilistic and exhaustive sampling method was used. Data were collected using a structured interview guide and an observation grid. Excel software was used to create tables and graphs. Results: Males were predominant (63.16%). The majority of participants were operators (79%) of the Waste Transfer Center. The main tasks performed by workers at the transfer center are picking up, transferring, collecting and covering containers, spreading and weighing waste, and maintaining the center. These activities expose workers to heat, noise, dust, odors, irritating gases, stress, and accident risks, sometimes at very high levels of criticality. Conclusion: Waste management, although essential to urban sanitation, exposes workers at the Gbegamey transfer center to numerous health risks, requiring appropriate preventive measures.

Identifying the factors contributing to the intention-behaviour gap is pivotal for reducing food waste. Existing research has largely concentrated on the antecedents of food-waste intention, while neglecting not only the discrepancy between intention and actual wasteful behaviour but also the determinants underlying this discrepancy. Drawing on survey data from China, this study employs five machine learning models, Gradient Boost, Random Forest, XGBoost, K-nearest neighbours and Decision Tree to investigate key predictors of this gap. Gradient Boost and Random Forest outperformed the others in predictive accuracy. Moral disengagement emerged as the most influential determinant; a finding consistently supported by the two best-performing models. Among its mechanisms, three neutralization techniques, namely moral justification, diffusion of responsibility and advantageous comparison, were found to significantly contribute to the gap. Additionally, dining culture was identified as another critical factor, with over-ordering and food discarding behaviours playing a central role. Based on these findings, policymakers should consider practical interventions, including traceability tools, accountability reminders and culturally sensitive campaigns, to effectively reduce household and food-service waste. With the development of machine learning models, this research broadens the perspective of food waste research and provides new solutions for using complex data in this field.

This article aims to reactualize Qur'anic environmental ethics as a normative foundation for sustainable urban river management. The study highlights three major problems contributing to river degradation in urban areas: (1) fraudulent practices by the community in constructing houses, shop-houses, and permanent buildings on river buffer zones, which are legally classified as state land and are not subject to private ownership or trade; (2) low public ecological awareness, as reflected in irresponsible behaviors such as disposing of household waste and garbage into rivers; and (3) the lack of trustworthiness (amanah) on the part of the government in carrying out its duties, particularly in the weak supervision and control of illegal buildings along riverbanks. These practices have led to river narrowing, sedimentation, and obstructed water flow, thereby increasing the risk of flooding during periods of heavy rainfall. Through a thematic exegetical approach with an ecotheological perspective, this study affirms that the Qur'an contains fundamental principles such as amanah (trust), justice, the prohibition of fasād fī al-ard (corruption on earth), and collective responsibility in maintaining environmental balance. The reactualization of these values is expected to foster moral awareness within society and strengthen governmental integrity, enabling the realization of sustainable, just, and ethically grounded urban river management in accordance with Islamic teachings.

Abstract Background: Food waste, which is a component of municipal solid waste, is incinerated or dumped in open area which may cause severe health and environmental issues. A complete and environmentally sound Solid Waste Management requires effective contribution from all those who are involved in this problem. Objective: To evaluate the impact of an organized model of waste management system and community mobilization on food waste disposal practices. Materials and Methods: The present Quasi Experimental Study was conducted among 198 households in Thiruvalla. A semi structured, pilot tested questionnaire was used to collect information about the baseline waste disposal methods practiced. An individual ring compost unit was set up for each individual household.The beneficiaries were given training and the survey was repeated to evaluate any change in practices after a year. Wilcoxon signed rank test was used for before and after comparison of mean values across groups. p value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The number of study participants practicing segregation of biodegradable and non-biodegradable wastes increased from 18% (before intervention) to 80.3% (after intervention). The change in the household waste disposal practices of the study population after Setting up of a ring compost unit and waste management training was found to be statistically significant. Conclusion: Provision of ring compost units and training of the community could help in providing a long term solution to the domestic food waste problem.

Bread waste is a highly notable yet frequently overlooked component of worldwide food loss, incurring devastating economic, environmental and cultural ramifications along the supply chain. This article compares policy initiatives to reduce bread waste in 17 nations using a multi-level classification regime (regulatory, economic, informational, voluntary, technological and integrated). Empirical data from 27 international studies describe intervention effectiveness from production inception to end use. The main conclusion is that legally enforced regulatory frameworks are significantly more effective than voluntary market-based approaches. Instruments like France's statute on donations and South Korea's recycling legislation assure high, quantifiable compliance rates, whereas voluntary alliances (e.g. Germany's retailer associations) often lead to uneven implementation and a modest aggregate effect. The analysis reveals complex policy trade-offs and paradoxical results of instruments like Sweden's retailer Take-Back Agreements (TBAs). TBAs, designed to mitigate financial burdens, incentivized bakeries to practice Kramer-bashing (i.e. they would bake excessively and return more). Conversely, thoughtful economic reform, as typified by subsidy adjustments in Egypt and Jordan, outlines how careful restructuring improves supply chain efficiency while simultaneously remedying pressing problems of food equity. Additionally, achieving a notable reduction is subject to behavioural strategy implementation, underscored by the pivotal role of informational and culturally suitable campaigns in Turkey and the United Kingdom in realizing sizable potential for household waste reduction. The article concludes that efficient bread waste management necessitates an all-inclusive, integrated policy framework that strategically integrates compulsory regulations, market-based incentives and culturally suitable behavioural methods to advocate sustained reductions along the whole value chain.

ABSTRACT This article draws on a three-year interdisciplinary project exploring UK household waste to illuminate the crucial yet underexplored role of the household in improving recycling rates. We highlight the complexities in the UK recycling system and how the burden of managing these falls to the consumer and the household. The article’s novelty lies both empirically in our micro-level focus on household plastic disposal but also conceptually in our contribution to international debates on circular economy (CE). Applying a sociological lens, we demonstrate how the complexity of plastic creates a mismatch between the idealism of CE policy and what can be delivered in practice. In turn, we demonstrate how the UK plastic supply chain and associated policies, are not only misaligned with everyday household disposal activities but also disregard their importance. We argue for two key areas of policy recommendation to improve the UK’s recycling rates and transition towards a more circular materials economy. These are 1) engagement with everyday household disposal practices to understand what happens with household waste at the micro level and how such understanding can innovate policy; and (2) using household disposal experiences to determine policy areas for rationalisation and standardisation across the plastic supply chain.