Pro-environmental Behaviour Regarding Solid Waste Management in Householders of Kalutara Urban Council Area A Case Study

Abstract

Problems generated by solid waste have become a major national issue in Sri Lanka due tohigh levels of economic growth and consumption. Inappropriate management of solid wastemay generate many problems such as environmental pollution, public health, social andeconomic problems as well as aesthetic issues. Therefore, this problem needs immediateattention not only for the management of waste, but also for the study of individual behaviourrelated to solid waste production and use. This research was carried out as a case study inKalutara urban council area, where behaviour that is related to the production andmanagement of waste is analysed. To achieve this, a questionnaire survey was done for thehouseholders of Kalutara North, Kalutara South and Katukurunda. The householders’descriptive, inferential and informative believes were identified where they expressagreement or disagreement regarding the final disposal of waste. In total 100 householderscompleted the questionnaire. This work approached the behavioural aspect of the problem byconsidering the attitudes towards the environment and the beliefs about the environment. Inaddition, knowledge of environment and the problems raised have been considered forprediction of environmentally protective behaviour. In this investigation, the classification ofbelieves were considered in terms of austerity or limitation of consumption, conservation andmaterial beliefs or material squandering. Further, the environmental attitudes were consideredas emotional, cognitive and behavioural. Based on the preliminary results of this study, it canbe concluded that believes show a certain level of relation with the attitudes of thehouseholders. The questionnaire survey was useful to highlight the solid waste problem thatexists in the area and to indicate the trends of attitudes and behaviour among the solid wastemanagement. Further, by considering the findings of this study, an environmental educationprogram to promote pro-environmental behaviour in solid waste management must beestablished to change non-effective waste management practices and to promote thehouseholders to use the waste as a resource.