The role of internal and external motivations in shaping household attitudes towards waste separation: evidence from Colombo municipal council area

Abstract

As the world’s attention shifts towards sustainable development, waste management emerges as a critical global issue, exacerbated by population growth and rapid urbanization. The importance of waste prevention, reduction, and recycling has been emphasised by the United Nations' 2030 Agenda. Most developing countries around the world, including Sri Lanka, face numerous challenges in achieving effective waste separation, specifically at the household level. This study has identified the importance of considering the Sri Lankan waste management system. Hence, this study examines how households in the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) region perceive waste separation, considering both internal and external motivations. Following a deductive research approach with a positivist philosophy, using a purposive sampling method, data were collected from 384 individuals through in-person visits to six locations in the CMC Area. Seven factors, including policy regulation, awareness of consequences, incentives, self efficacy, facilitating conditions, moral norms, and subjective norms, were analysed to assess their impact on attitudes toward waste separation. To analyze the findings, multiple regression analysis was used in IBM SPSS 25 statistics software. Findings have identified a positive effect of all factors on attitude towards waste separation, except for incentives. The study's findings revealed that developing policy, establishing infrastructure, and increasing moral and social awareness are crucial to creating positive attitudes toward waste separation. The study suggests establishing collaborative efforts among multiple parties, including policymakers, local authorities, and households, to create awareness using educational programs, improve recycling facilities, and achieve waste management goals. Future researchers could investigate multiple regions, long term motivational impacts, technological innovations, and cultural influences, and employ larger samples or longitudinal methods for waste separation studies.