1. Introduction
During past years, Viet Nam has to face numerous difficulties and challenges in solid waste (SW) management due to urbanization process, rapid economic and population growth. According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE, 2020), the amount of SW increase at a rate of 12%/year, equivalent to 64,658 tons/day. It is estimated that in urban areas, the average amount of municipal solid waste (MSW) will growth by 10-16%/year (more than 13 million tons/year, accounting for 55% of the total volume of SW generated in the country). Although volume of SW is large, the qualifications of infrastructure system and management capacity are still limited, which has not met the needs of the development process, causing a lot of pressure on the environment and society.
Separation of SW at source is an important segment of SW management. It has been considered as the first step in this management chain, plays a critical role in determining the quality and quantity of waste flowing into the follow-up processing procedures, such as recycling, transportation, landfilling, incinerating, and composting. It is also a fundamental condition in closing the loop of materials, which is expected to reverse the negative impacts of solid waste on the environment and the scarcity of natural resources (Zhu, 2013). In Vietnam, although pilot programs of waste separation at source have been deployed since the 1996, they have not been scaled up. Most of the SW generated is disposed of in landfill sites, causing severe pollution and overload of waste.
Thanh Xuan district is located in the southwest of the Hanoi capital, with an area of 9.11 km². With an average economic growth rate of 6.1% and an increase in population of about 8000 people (Hanoi Statistical Office, 2022), the district has many environmental problems, especially MSW. SW daily generation in the district is about 247 tons/day, equivalent to an average of 0.8 - 0.9 kg/person/day, of which food waste accounts for about 51.9%, and about 48.1% of household waste is recyclable (URENCO, 2021). To promote the recycling and reuse and reduce the amount of SW emitted in the environment, the active participations from the community in MSW classification activities play an important role. In this paper, investigation and evaluation of MSW source-separated collection are carried out. Based on these analyzes, some suggestions and recommendations are proposed to encourage households’ participation and improve MSW management.
2. Research Method
2.1. Data collection
- Primary data collection: To identify the factors affecting the behavior of households’ waste classification in Thanh Xuan district, questionnaires has been designed to collect opinions of households by randomly visiting households at 4 wards, including: Khuong Dinh, Khuong Trung, Ha Dinh, Thuong Dinh from 3/2023 to 4/2023. A total of 84 questionnaires were delivered, and 81 attained samples. After screening and removing invalid questionnaires (those were not fully completed or the answers were one - scale dimension), a total of 75 valid samples were used for further analysis.In this study, the questionnaire includes two main sections, which were designed to fulfill the research objectives and several key requirements from the research hypotheses. The first section focuses on the measurement of the construct in the research model. Questions on attitude towards waste separation, social norms, perceived behavioral control, knowledge about waste separation, laws and regulations, propaganda, and behavioral intentions were included. Studying factors impacting separation behavior intention uses the scale Likert that is 5 levels. In the second section, questions on demographic characteristics were asked, including gender, age, and education level.
- Secondary data collection: The study is based on information collected from documents including documents, laws, projects, and research reports related to the behavior of MSW classification in the period from 2018 to 2022. The author also collects information and statistics from the General Statistics Office, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment on MSW management.
2.2. Methodology
- Quantitative analysis
To investigate factors influencing on household’s separation, the data is calculated and processed by excel and SPSS.29 software.
Frequency statistics: the authors use excel to re-statistic the frequency and percentage of factor groups, usually applied to qualitative variables. In this study, they are variables about demographic characteristics such as gender, age, income, education level. The results of frequency statistics help to evaluate the structure of each variable.
Methods of data processing: SPSS software are employed for exploratory factor analysis (EFA), scale testing (Cronbach's Alpha). Next, after the steps of checking the factors, the author removed the bad variables and continued to use SPSS software for correlation analysis and regression analysis - testing the hypotheses.
- Theory of solid waste separation behavior
Under the concept of pro-environmental behaviors, the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) has been applied to predict the likelihood or intention that individuals will engage in various pro-environmental behaviors (Ajzen, I., 1991). For SW management, many studies rely on TPB theory to prove that psychological factors including attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control (PBC) are main predictors to waste separation intentions and are based on their positive intention. Gold (2011) suggested that an individual's behavior can be predict better with a model that includes moral obligation, these additional variables are all consistent with the original TPB. In addition, Zhou, M. (2019) states that waste segregation advertisements are found everywhere in newspapers, television, radio and on the internet or local authorities take measures. If the policy promotes the classification of people and makes it widely available, it will contribute to increasing the behavior of garbage segregation.
Therefore, to assess the factors affecting the behavior of SW classification in Thanh Xuan district, this study is based on the TPB and adds two more variables, namely personal moral obligation. support policies of local governments.
(1) People's attitude (AT)
People's attitude is the positive or negative attitude of an individual in performing a particular behavior. Attitude is a relatively stable psychological structure that many studies have confirmed and predicted the influence of this factor on the behavior of participating in environmental protection. Studies have shown that individuals with a positive attitude are more likely to be willing to participate (Zhang Y. et al., 2019). This study expects that if people have a positive attitude towards environmental protection, the level of participation in the classification of solid waste will be high and vice versa.
(2) Subjective norms (SN)
Subjective norms refer to the influence of external social pressures on an individual's particular behavior. They are usually the regulations of units, mass organizations, authorities or from family, friends and colleagues. McEachan R.R.C. (2011) have shown that the greater the external social pressure, the stronger the individual's willingness to participate in environmental protection activities. In this study, subjective norm refers to the influence of external social pressure on people's willingness to separation SW. The greater the social pressure, the higher their willingness to participate and vice versa.
(3) Perceived behavioral control (PC)
Perceived behavioral control measures an individual's subjective perception of performing a particular behavior (Ajzen I., 1991) and whether that action is controlled or restricted. The proposed relationship between perceived control behavior and intended/actual behavior is based on two hypotheses: first, an increase in perceived behavioral control will lead to an increase in behavioral control. intends to perform the act and is likely to result in the performance of the action; second, perceived behavioral control will to some extent directly affect behavior where perceived control reflects actual control (Armitage, C. J., & Conner, M., 2001). Based on this argument, if people have confidence in their own garbage sorting ability, the higher the willingness to participate and vice versa.
(4) Obligations of moral awareness (MO)
Moral obligation refers to an individual's subjective judgment. This factor reflects the individual's self-expectations and attitudes towards specific behaviors, which are shaped by personal norms and values. Zhang (2019) argues that individuals feel proud if their actions are in line with the norm; otherwise, they will feel guilty. Moral obligation has also been included by Gold (2011) in predictive behavioral analysis. The results show that Moral obligation has a positive impact on environmental protection behavior. The individual ethical obligations in this study were measured by a sense of responsibility, duty and guilt if they did not sort their waste with the expectation that it would have a positive effect, promoting sorting behavior.
(5) Policy of government (PG)
Yu, He, Li, Huang, and Zhu (2014) proved that the laws and regulations had a positive effect on the willingness of residents to separate. Wang et al. (2016) found that promulgation and public spread of the laws and regulations improved environmental awareness among residents and in turn making them ready to sort waste. Noehammer and Byer (1997) founded that compulsory recycling programs launched by the government had a higher participation rate than voluntary resident recycling. Vietnam is a government-leading country which means all levels of government are responsible for issuing legislation on waste separation. In a nutshell, laws, and regulations ruled by the government play a vital part in waste sorting.
In addition, propaganda could motivate residents to realize the significance of household waste separation and hence perform separate collections better. De Feo and De Gisi (2010) presented the idea that propaganda and citizen encouragement could encourage residents to separate waste.
3. Results
3.1. Descriptive statistics of the survey sample
Among 75 survey participants, the number of men participating in the survey is 48 people, accounting for 64%, and women are 27 people (accounting for 36%). Age is a factor that impacts on the knowledge of respondents. Different ages may have different perceptions and understandings about SW classification due to their different knowledge. In the survey, the most common age is from 22 to 60 years old, with 41 people, accounting for 41%. Regarding the respondents’ education level, the highest percentage of education is college or university graduates, accounting for 40% of the respondents. Among the total 75 candidates, highest percentage of income ranges from 15 to 30 million VND/person/month, accounting for 40% and there are 19 people with income over 30 million VND/person/month, accounting for 25.4%.
3.2. Testing for reliability of the scales
Cronbach's Alpha analysis was used before the EFA factor analysis to remove unsuitable variables because these factors can create dummy factors. Cronbach's Alpha reliability coefficient only indicates whether the measures are related or not; does not indicate which observed variables should be removed and which should be kept. Cronbach's Alpha is used to evaluate the reliability of the scale based on the criteria of Cronbach's Alpha coefficient > 0.6 and the total variable correlation coefficient > 0.3.
Table 1. Reliability of indicators
Item Code
|
Indicator
|
Item-total correlations
|
Cronbach’s Alpha after deleting variables
|
Cronbach’s Alpha
|
AT1
|
Sorting garbage helps to protect the environment and conserve resources, we should do
|
.694
|
.677
|
.801
|
AT2
|
I can create a model for children by doing household waste separation
|
.609
|
.767
|
|
AT3
|
Waste separation demonstrates the effectiveness of personal hygiene
|
.640
|
.735
|
|
SN1
|
Does your family support you in sorting household waste?
|
.778
|
.812
|
|
SN2
|
Do your friends support you in sorting household waste?
|
.748
|
.839
|
.877
|
SN3
|
Does your neighbor assist you in sorting your trash?
|
.763
|
.826
|
|
PC1
|
Do you have enough time to do waste separation?
|
.774
|
.873
|
|
PC2
|
Does your home have enough space to store sorted trash?
|
.794
|
.865
|
|
PC3
|
Does your local government or community provide you with complete facilities for waste s separation (e.g. separation bags, sorting bins)
|
.780
|
.870
|
.900
|
PC4
|
Is it convenient for your home to do garbage separation?
|
.763
|
.877
|
|
MO1
|
Garbage separation is an ethical act to protect the ecological environment, everyone has a duty to do so
|
.738
|
.784
|
|
MO2
|
Separating waste is an act of thrift, everyone has an obligation to do so
|
.683
|
.835
|
.854
|
MO3
|
Do you feel embarrassed when waste is thrown in the trash without classification?
|
.757
|
.767
|
|
PG1
|
The local government pay great attention to the issue of waste segregation and has actively campaigned for people to participate in the waste separation.
|
.690
|
|
|
PG2
|
Local governments and communities provide a scientific, efficient and concise waste classification guideline
|
.690
|
|
.789
|
AC1
|
|
.744
|
|
|
AC2
|
|
.744
|
|
.852
|
Source: Calculation results from survey data, 2023
From the results of reliability testing through Cronbach's Alpha coefficient in table 1, it can be seen that all factors have alpha coefficients greater than 0.6 and all variables have correlation coefficients with the total variable greater than 0.3 is satisfactory.
- EFA exploratory factor analysis
EFA factor analysis was conducted to evaluate the convergent and discriminant values of all observed variables, converging observed variables on a few large factor groups and distinguishing these groups of factors. The EFA method requires the observed variables to meet 5 criteria on the KMO coefficient in the range of 0.5 - 1; Bartlett's test has Sig coefficients. ≤ 0.05; Eigenvalue ≥ 1; Total variance extracted ≥ 50% and Factor loading factor ≥ 0.6.
- Exploratory factor analysis for all independent variables
After testing the reliability of Cronbach's Alpha, the scales were next evaluated by exploratory factor analysis (EFA). The factor analysis will be conducted with all observed variables, then will remove the variables with low transmission coefficient.
For the first time, 15 observed variables were included in the analysis. KMO coefficient = .890 (>0.5). However, the observed variables, CS1 and CS2 were excluded due to their low transmission coefficient.
For the second time, the PG1 and PG2 variables were removed, and the remaining 13 variables were included for factor analysis. The transmission coefficients are all greater than
Table 2: KMO test results of independent variables
KMO and Bartlett's Test
|
Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin Measure of Sampling Adequacy.
|
.900
|
Bartlett's Test of Sphericity
|
Approx. Chi-Square
|
637.670
|
df
|
78
|
Sig.
|
.000
|
Source: Calculation results from survey data, 2023
The results of KMO analysis show that: KMO coefficient = .900 > 0.05, so factor analysis (EFA) is suitable with the research data set. Bartlet test is 637,670 with significance level Sig < .001, proving that the data used for factor analysis is completely appropriate. Total Variance Explained = 66.786% > 50%, so it meets the requirements, indicating that the above 5 factors explain 66.786% of the data variation. All observed variables have factor loading > 0.6.
- Exploratory factor analysis for the dependent variable
Table 3: KMO test results of the dependent variable
KMO and Bartlett's Test
|
Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin Measure of Sampling Adequacy.
|
.500
|
Bartlett's Test of Sphericity
|
Approx. Chi-Square
|
58.534
|
df
|
1
|
Sig.
|
.000
|
Source: Calculation results from survey data, 2023
The results of the EFA analysis of the dependent variable show that: The observed variable of "household waste sorting behavior" is grouped into 1 factor, no observed variable is excluded. EFA is consistent with the coefficient KMO = .500, the total variance extracted is 87.215% > 50%, so the EFA model is suitable; observed variables have factor loading coefficients > 0.5, significance level Sig. of Bartlett's test is <.001. So, the research model removes the variable of the local government policy
3.3. Multiple regression analysis
The regression model has the following form: SI = βo + βiXi + e
Where: SI: dependent variable; Xi: Independent variables
βo: Regression constant; βi: Regression weight; e: Error
Regression analysis includes 4 independent variables: people's attitude (AT), subjective norm (SN), perceived behavioral control (PC), moral cognitive obligation (MO) and 1 auxiliary variable that belongs to the act of classifying domestic waste (AC)
Table 4. Results of Regression Analysis
Coefficientsa
|
Model
|
Unstandardized Coefficients
|
Standardized Coefficients
|
t
|
Sig.
|
Collinearity Statistics
|
B
|
Std. Error
|
Beta
|
Tolerance
|
VIF
|
1
|
(Constant)
|
-.330
|
.331
|
|
-.997
|
.322
|
|
|
ATtb
|
.585
|
.104
|
.499
|
5.647
|
.000
|
.521
|
1.920
|
SNtb
|
.499
|
.111
|
.414
|
4.476
|
.000
|
.476
|
2.100
|
PCtb
|
.021
|
.113
|
.020
|
.183
|
.856
|
.349
|
2.868
|
MOtb
|
-.002
|
.102
|
-.002
|
-.022
|
.982
|
.397
|
2.518
|
Source: Calculation results from survey data, 2023
|
|
The above results show that, with the significance level α = 5%, the perceived behavioral control variable and moral obligation are not significant and cannot explain the dependent variable.
From the regression results, the behavior of household waste classification is represented by the following formula:
SI = 0.414*SN + 0.499*AT
β1=0.414 > 0 indicates that the higher the subjective standards of household waste classification, the higher the behavior of household waste classification.
β2= 0.499> 0 indicates that the higher the attitude of the person about the classification of household waste, the more the behavior of the household waste classification increases.
Thus, out of the given factors, only 2 factors have an impact on the behavior of people's household waste classification in Thanh Xuan district, Hanoi. The obtained results are quite consistent with the characteristics of the respondents.
Each of these factors represents a different group of observed variables and the importance of the observed variables for the representative factor is evaluated through the factor loading coefficient. Accordingly, the higher the factor loading coefficient, the more important the role of that observed variable for the representative factor is.
The normalized regression coefficient shows that the greatest influence on the household waste classification behavior of people in Thanh Xuan district, Hanoi based on the absolute value of the Beta coefficient. The greater the absolute value of the factor Beta, the greater the influence of that factor on the dependent variable.
Based on the model's regression coefficient table, it can be seen that the factor that has the greatest influence on the behavior of people in household waste classification in Thanh Xuan district, Hanoi is the people's attitude with the number β2 is 0.499.
Cronbach's Alpha results for the independent variable scales of the subjective norm factor are relatively high (0.877), showing that this factor plays an important role in the behavior of household waste classification of households in Hanoi. Thanh Xuan district.
In the group of factors about subjective standards when classifying solid waste, the observed variable SN3 "does your neighbors assist you in classifying domestic waste" is the most important value with the highest transmission coefficient. (=0.801).
Next is the variable SN2 "does your friends support you to classify garbage with a transmission coefficient of 0.797 and finally the variable SN1 "does your family support you in sorting domestic waste" systematically? The lowest transmission number is 0.765.
Subjective standards have a positive impact on the behavior of domestic waste classification, when people have the right awareness or have the support of friends, relatives and the community, the garbage classification will be done well. than. This result is also found in the studies Ru et al. (2019), the author and collaborators said that people have a high sense of responsibility and obligation towards the environment and community, the waste classification of they will be stronger.
The second factor affecting on the behavior of household waste classification is the attitude of the people. The results of Cronbach's Alpha reliability analysis are quite good at 0.801, showing the important role of this factor in the household waste classification behavior of households in Thanh Xuan district, Hanoi Capital.
4. Conclusion
With survey results of 75 households in Thanh Xuan district, Hanoi city, this study applied an extended theory of planned behavior to analyze factors affecting waste source-separation behavior in urban areas. From the initial 5 factors, after the process of testing and analyzing, the results revealed that there are two factors affecting the behavior of household waste classification, including household attitudes, subjective standards. From this analysis, combined with the views of the central and local government, some solutions have been proposed. As the study shows, attitude towards waste separation is the primary influencing factor in activating residents’ household waste separation intention. That shows the fact that those who participate actively in waste separation do so mainly because they understand that waste separation is a cost-effective way of enhancing environmental quality and increasing socio-economic sustainability. In addition, knowledge about waste separation is the strong influence on household waste separating behavior. Consequently, it is indispensable to build up educational campaigns that may raise people’s awareness and beliefs about the benefits of waste sorting in conserving natural resources as well as reducing the use of landfills and emissions of greenhouse gasses. By realizing how beneficial waste separating is, it would motivate residents to sort household waste and further foster these habits among residents. Besides that, the findings from this study revealed the significance of social pressure in developing residents’ household waste separation intention. Therefore, public media and communication campaigns should be designed appropriately with the aim to attract more and more people to perform waste sorting behavior.
Dr. Ngo Thanh Mai, thanhmai@neu.edu.vn
Do Duc Duy, duyd.nevents@gmail.com
Faculty of Environmental, Climate Change and Urban Studies
National Economics University, Hanoi, Vietnam
(International Conference ICSEED2023)
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