Determining the knowledge, attitude and practice about the environment and recycling of individuals living in a public housing compound: A quantitative, qualitative mixed method study

Background: The environment is the physical, biological, social, economic and cultural environment in which people and other living things maintain their relationships and interact throughout their lives. In this study, it was aimed to determine the knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of individuals residing in a public housing estate towards the environment and recycling.Methods: The research was designed as cross-sectional and conducted with a mixed method including both quantitative and qualitative methods. 330 of 437 residents participated in the qualitative part of the study (participation rate 75.5%) in January 2021. The quantitative part of the study was attended by 10 apartment workers.Results: 51.5% of the participants (n=170) believe that they have sufficient knowledge about recycling. However, only 38.8% of the participants (n=128) stated that they collect recyclable waste separately. The environment-emotion level of men was found to be higher (Z=-2.242, p=0.025). A statistically significant difference was found between the general level average scores in terms of marital status. In terms of “knowledge sub-levels”, the mean environmental knowledge level scores of health workers were found to be significantly higher than other occupational groups (Z=-2,460, p=0.014). Apartment workers stated 202 flats (46.2%) collect recyclable waste separately.Conclusion: To prevent the climate crisis, it is important to recycle domestic waste to protect the environment. Individuals’ recycling behavior levels can be increased with practices that aim to inform, direct and encourage recycling. In parallel with all these practices, it is important for governments to be politically determined and implement legal regulations on waste recycling.

Keywords:

Recycling, Environment, Public housing Knowledge, Attitude, Practice,

PDF

___

1. Güler Ç. Çevre Sağlığı, Çevre ve Ekoloji Bağlantılarıyla, 1. Baskı. Ankara, Yazıt Yayıncılık. 2012. (In Turkish)
2. Giusti L. A review of waste management practices and their impact on human health. Waste Manag. 2009; 29(8): 2227-2239.
3. Oweis R, Al-Widyan M, Al-Limoon O. Medical waste management in Jordan: a study at the King Hussein Medical Center. Waste Manag. 2005; 25(6): 622-5.
4. Gunduzalp AA, Güven, S. Waste and waste types, waste management, recycling and consumer: Çankaya Municipality and Instance of Neighborhood Consumers. Hacettepe Üniversitesi Sosyolojik Araştırmalar E-Dergisi. 2016; 9: 1-19. (In Turkish)
5. Koçak YC, Oran NT, Ceber Turfan E. Waste separation, social responsibility and environmental awareness education. JAREN. 2016; 2(2): 97-102.
6. Erten, S. Çevre Eğitimi Ve Çevre Bilinci Nedir, Çevre Eğitimi Nasıl Olmalıdır? Çevre ve İnsan Dergisi, Çevre ve Orman Bakanlığı Yayın Organı. 2004; 65(66): 1-13. (In Turkish)
7. Avan C, Aydınlı B, Bakar F, Alboga Y. Preparing attitude scale to define students' attitudes about environment, recycling, plastic and plastic waste. IEJEE-Green. 2011; 1(3): 179-191.
8. Karakas H, Divrik MT, Divrik B. Vocational School Students' Attitude for Plastic Wastes and Recycling. Selçuk Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Meslek Yüksekokulu Dergisi. 2018; 21(2): 448-470. (In Turkish)
9. Kanbak, A. Environmental attitudes and behaviors of university students: Kocaeli University example in terms of different variables. KOSBED. 2015; 30: 77-90. (In Turkish)
10. Demirbag BC, Gungormus Z. The knowledge and behaviors of individuals regarding the management of domestic solid waste. Gümüşhane University Journal of Health Sciences. 2012; 1(3): 127-137. (In Turkish)
11. Aracioglu B, Tatlidil R. Effects of environmental consciousness over consumers’ purchasing behavior. Ege Acad Rev. 2009; 9(2): 435-461. (In Turkish)
12. Tanrikulu C. An examination of the role of environmental concern, perceived consumer effectiveness, and collectivism in green purchase behavior of consumers. Atatürk Üniversitesi İktisadi ve İdari Bilimler Dergisi. 2015; 29(1): 121-136. (In Turkish)
13. Lee YK, Kim S, Kim MS, Choi JG. Antecedents and Interrelationships of Three Types of Pro-Environmental Behavior. J Bus Res. 2014; 67(10): 2097-2105.
14. Tchetchik A, Kaplan S, Blass V. Recycling and consumption reduction following the COVID-19 lockdown: The effect of threat and coping appraisal, past behavior and information. J Res Cons Rec. 2021; 167: 105370.
15. Gürer A, Sakız G. Adults' level of knowledge about global warming and recycling awareness. Journal of the Human & Social Science Researches. 2018; 7 (2): 1364-1391. (In Turkish)
16. Çimen O, Yılmaz M. Recycling knowledge, behaviors, and attitudes of primary school students. UEFAD. 2012; 25(1): 63-67. (In Turkish)
17. Özbakır Umut M, Topuz Y, Nurtanış Velioğlu M. The sustainable consumers on the way from waste to recycling. CBÜ Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi. 2015; 13(2): 263-288. (In Turkish)
18. Cabuk S, Nakiboglu B, Keles C. Tüketicilerin Yeşil ürün Satın Alma Davranışlarının Sosyo demografik Değişkenler Açısından incelenmesi. ÇÜSBED. 2008; 17(1): 85-102. (In Turkish)
19. Grodzinska-Jurczak M, Bartosiewicz A, Twardowska A, Ballantyne R. Evaluating the impact of a school waste education program upon students', parents' and teachers' environmental knowledge, attitudes and behavior. Int. Res. Geogr. Environ. Educ. 2003; 12(2): 106-122.
20. Ikiisik H, Ari A, Cakir M, Ileri Y, Aslan E, Sabreden BE, et al. Evaluation of The Recycling Habits of Medical Faculty Students. Abant Med J. 2020; 9(3): 108-115.
21. Ehrampoush MH, Moghadam MB. Survey of knowledge, attitude and practice of Yazd University of Medical Sciences students about solid wastes disposal and recycling. Iranian J Env Health Sci Eng. 2005; 2(2): 26-30.
22. Kazazoglu TI, Erkal S. Investigation of environmental awareness levels of university students and their behaviours towards environmental problems. ESOSDER. 2022; 21(81): 21-42. (In Turkish)
23. Güşta Sahin H, Dogu S. Pre-service preschool teachers’ attitudes and behaviors related to environmental problems. IOO. 2018; 17(3): 1402-1416. (In Turkish)
24. Oznur AK, Genc AT. A research on the recycling awareness of university students: The case of Sakarya University. UEAD. 2018; 4(2): 19-39. (In Turkish)
25. Tezel O, Yıldız E. Comparison of world and turkey in sustainable waste management applications: Edikab Case. SSRJ. 2020; 9(2): 35-48.