Streamlining the Municipal Waste Management System in the City of Nitra (Slovak Republic) Based on a Public Survey

The main problems of the city of Nitra (Slovak Republic) in the field of municipal waste management include: 1. High production of municipal waste per capita; 2. Low rate of its separation; 3. High landfill rate; 4. No opportunity for composting; 5. Establishment of illegal landfills in the city; 6. Low waste prevention rate. To identify the attitudes and opinions of the respondents, and to evaluate certain behavioural practices of the inhabitants of Nitra in the management of municipal solid waste, we used a structured questionnaire (realized in 2020). The results of the questionnaire correspond to the behaviour of 4911 inhabitants of the city (6.46%). This paper evaluates the respondents’ answers, which could be utilised by the local government—not only for a more appropriate setting of municipal waste management and separation, but also in waste prevention and monitoring changes in the consumer behaviour of city residents. The degree of separation in individual housing construction (IHC) and complex housing construction (CHC) was statistically evaluated and compared separately. For paper and glass, a higher degree of separation was reflected in CHC; while conversely, households living in CHC avoided bio-waste and kitchen waste more than IHC households. The most common reason for not participating in the separate collection was the lack of collection containers, the distance of containers from their households, or the low frequency of their collection. The results of the questionnaire show the need for more rigorous education about waste generation, its proper separation, and its prevention.

Solid Waste Recycling Issues in Georgia

Georgia has made many commitments by signing the Association Agreement with the European Union, including the development of an effective waste management program. Waste management policies should include issues such as: waste management, landfills, identification and classification of waste facilities, urban wastewater treatment and more. There are four types of waste: household waste; Medical waste; Biological waste and industrial waste. Each type of waste can cause great harm to the environment. The medical and industrial waste are especially dangerous. About 5-10 thousand tons of medical waste are generated in Georgia. There is less waste planning opportunities and experience at the municipal level. In small towns and rural settlements, there are not enough garbage collection containers and garbage trucks. With the economic development of the country, the amount of waste generated and collected is increasing. Like developing countries, solid waste management in Georgia is associated with challenges of national, regional and local importance, as well as financial and environmental problems. The important steps have been taken in recent years to rectify the situation: a system for the safe disposal of municipal waste in a landfill environment and health has been established in Tbilisi and the regions. There is less waste planning opportunities and experience at the municipal level. In small towns and rural settlements, there are not enough garbage collection containers and garbage trucks. With the economic development of the country, the amount of waste generated and collected is increasing. The Work has already begun on arranging new landfills. The Waste Management Code, accompanying by-laws, the National Waste Management Strategy (2016-2030) and the National Waste Management Action Plan have made it the preferred course for Georgia to become a country focused on waste prevention and recycling. Despite the positive changes, according to experts on the issue, the country still has a long way to go to achieve this goal. Several factors are particularly challenging: 1. Incentive mechanisms for waste prevention, reuse, recycling and recovery are being developed; 2. Waste processing companies should be established or strengthened; 3. Effective mechanisms for waste management costs (both for citizens and companies) to be developed; 4. An extended producer obligation should be introduced, which implies the responsibility of the producer and / or importer for the collection and treatment of specific wastes hazardous to humans and health. Key words: Solid waste, Garbage processing plants, Household waste, Medical waste, Biological waste, Industrial waste.

Zero Waste Store: A Way to Promote Environment-friendly Living

This study focuses on the emergence of Zero Waste Store: A Way to Promote Environmental-Friendly Living. The principle behind zero waste is to reduce the environmental pollution that decomposes less decomposes. Waste management begins with waste prevention and continues with waste sorting, producer accountability and waste charges based on the amount of waste disposed of the implementation variable of zero waste is community waste management and the lack of resources and government subsidies. Throughout the study, the perceptions, adaptation, and promotion about zero waste store as an eco-friendly and plastic-free environment. The researchers used a phenomenological qualitative research design, in which the researchers set aside both perceptions and biases to completely comprehend the respondents' perspectives and lives. The study was conducted using Google forms as the platform of the questionnaire. The participants of this study are five (5) sari-sari store owners residing around the area of Batangas City. Implementing Zero Waste Store can benefit the reduction of plastic pollution that occurs to our environment both inland and water. The zero-waste store must be implemented in different places to gradually reduce the usage of plastic and trash in our households.

Addressing food loss and waste prevention

PurposeFood waste is one of the most challenging issues humanity is currently facing. Therefore, there has been a growing interest in the prevention of food waste because of world hunger, environmental impacts, resource scarcity and economic costs. The purpose of the study is to investigate the factors that influence food waste and the role of technology in tackling food waste in India and the Netherlands.Design/methodology/approachIn order to explore differences in food loss and waste further this study will examine a number of practices on both the production and the consumer side, in a developing country and a developed country with different culture/economic backgrounds: India and the Netherlands. The factors that influence food waste were examined with a preliminary qualitative study, which consists of semi-structured interviews, and quantitative research that comprises a survey. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in both India and the Netherlands, which consists of five interviews. The survey data was collected from 78 individuals from India and 115 individuals from the Netherlands.FindingsOne of the main findings of the research is food waste is divided into waste within agricultural production (i.e. food loss) and final household consumption (i.e. food waste). Different factors influence food loss in different stages in the supply chain. Some of these factors include wastage during processing, storage, transportation and at the market-place. New technologies can utilize food loss for new purposes, so food loss is reduced to the minimum. Food waste is mainly influenced by food passing expiry date, food that is left too long in the fridge and consumers buying too much food. In final household consumption, technologies such as digital platforms enable individuals or organizations to share and donate their food, thereby creating awareness on food waste prevention and the environmental and ethical benefits.Originality/valueThe authors examine to what extent and in which ways supporting consumers to minimize food waste can be achieved via three stages: (1) understanding and evaluating food loss and waste, (2) identifying the factors that influence food loss and waste, (3) understanding consumer behaviors to encourage food waste reduction and (4) identifying the technological impact that would reduce food waste. As such, this paper contributes to ongoing debates about food waste by looking at the role of context and culture and by exploring differences between developed and developing countries. Also, the authors advance the debate by exploring both the role of advanced technology such as blockchain and drones in both preventing loss and waste as well as non-technological mechanisms.

Consumer Seafood Waste and the Potential of a ‘Direct-from-Frozen’ Approach to Prevention

Few food waste interventions focus on drivers distinct to particular food groups, such as seafood. Given suggestive evidence that seafood may be wasted at exceptionally high rates, and given its environmental, economic and nutritional value, this research provides insights into seafood-specific consumer food waste interventions. We performed three complementary sub-studies to examine consumer and retailer views regarding seafood waste and frozen seafood as well as perceptions of an intervention providing chef-created recipes to promote cooking frozen seafood without defrosting. The findings indicated an openness to a direct-from-frozen intervention among many consumers and retailers, and suggested seven potential barriers to adoption, along with ways to address them. Underlying the potential for this intervention, and more broadly contributing to addressing consumer seafood waste, the research formed the basis of a new “4 Ps” concept model to characterize the drivers of discarded seafood: proficiency, perceptions/knowledge, perishability, and planning/convenience. These factors shape waste through pathways that include behavioral protocols; taste preferences; waste-prevention efforts; and food safety concerns, precautions, and errors. This research suggested the benefit of testing a larger-scale direct-from-frozen intervention using insights from the concept model and, more broadly, the benefits of exploring approaches to food waste prevention rooted in specific food groups.

Investigating the Determinants of Greek Households Food Waste Prevention Behaviour

Food waste prevention is globally an urgent policy priority. Multiple studies have demonstrated that in the developed world, households are the main producers of food waste along the food supply chain, being responsible for about half of the edible food wasted. This study aims to analyse consumers’ food waste behaviour and identify the factors that influence food waste generation in Greek households. A survey of 921 Greek households was conducted using a structured questionnaire based on the explanatory framework of the Theory of Planned Behaviour, which is currently the most widely used cognitive model in environmental psychology. The study investigated the validity of relations between the main model parameters (attitude towards food waste, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, intention, and self-reported behaviour), in addition to knowledge regarding food waste prevention, general environmental knowledge, planning and shopping habits and demographic characteristics. Results demonstrated that food waste prevention Intention and food provisioning habits are direct determinants of food waste generation Behaviour. Intention was predominantly determined by General Environmental Attitude, followed by Perceived Behavioural Control, Attitude towards Food Waste, and Consequences/Outcomes of waste prevention, while Subjective Norms did not exert a statistically significant influence, indicating that formal and informal environmental education can positively influence food waste prevention behaviour through a combination of experiential actions and instruction. The findings of the study can inform policymaking and support the development of effective campaigns for food waste prevention at the consumption stage.