Assessment of Belief Constructs to Support an Intervention in Municipal Solid Waste Separation at the Source in Low–Middle-Income Countries: Observations from the Greater Accra Region of Ghana

Abstract

This article uses a modified model of the theory of planned behaviour to assess salient beliefs of household heads towards the separation of municipal solid waste at its source in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. Structural equation modelling was used to analyse the responses of 598 household heads to a questionnaire in a cross-sectional design. Whilst the default model produced an acceptable fit to the data and explained 37% of the variance in households’ intention to separate waste at its source, the modified model with moral norms as an additional construct fitted the data excellently, explaining 52% of the variance in intention. Moral norms and perceived behavioural control were the predominant latent constructs to influence intentions. Control beliefs related to the availability of waste receptacles, provision of regular waste collection services, and access to knowledge of the separation process had the greatest tendency to facilitate households’ intentions. Pro-environmental interventions designed in a participatory manner to promote moral correctness, responsibility, respect for the environment, and positive affect may empower households to separate waste at its source. This research contributes to the development of a municipal solid waste strategy in the region, and may further support research in waste diversion and the circular economy in other jurisdictions.

Using an extended model of the reasoned action approach to explore individual behavioral intentions regarding litter and plastic pollution prevention in a developing country

“…This should be done alongside investment in locally appropriate trash receptacles in all public places within the catchment to persuade inhabitants to dispose of plastic and other MSW in an eco-friendly manner ( De Kort et al, 2008 ; Kombiok and Naa Jaaga, 2023 ). System handlers should design the trash receptacles to allow users to practice at least a two-stream waste separation of biodegradables and all others (plastics, metals, paper) to promote recycling and divert organic and recyclable waste from landfills ( Oduro-Appiah et al, 2022 ). Because the extent of cleanliness of an environment is reported to be positively associated with litter prevention behavior ( Rangoni and Jager, 2017 ; Al-mosa et al, 2017b ), implementing a sustainable waste collection strategy with targeted and improved collection coverage may further prevent littering around centrally placed receptacles.…”

“…Amongst these, moral norm appears to be the most commonly used additional construct, and evidence abounds to the improvement in model performance and the variance in pro-environmental behavioral intentions upon such additions ( Sandberg and Conner, 2008 ; Rousta et al, 2020 ; Yuriev et al, 2020 ). For example, moral norm has been used as an additional construct in the RAA to predict: hotel guest energy-saving behavior ( Wang et al, 2021 ), household source separation intentions ( Razali et al, 2020 ; Oduro-Appiah et al, 2022 ), recycling intentions and behaviors ( Tonglet et al, 2004 ; Botetzagias et al, 2015 ), food waste reduction and source separation behavior ( Graham-Rowe et al, 2015 ; Yuan et al, 2016 ; Wang et al, 2022 ), and particulate matter reduction behavior ( Ru et al, 2019 ). Nonetheless, the use of moral norms to extend the RAA to determine litter prevention intentions in a developing country context is limited in the scholarly literature.…”

“…The article builds further on the work of Tweneboah-Koduah et al (2019) , with a point of departure in two key areas, namely: (1) the use of formative research to elicit the relevant beliefs within the target population and (2) the addition of a fourth latent construct, moral norms, to extend the original RAA. Moral norms are reported to improve the predictive viability of pro-environmental behaviors such as litter prevention and waste separation at the source ( Godin et al, 2005 ; Oduro-Appiah et al, 2022 ). On the other hand, formative research supports researchers to determine the prominent beliefs of the intended audience for the designing of applicable survey instruments ( Downs and Hausenblas, 2005 ), thereby preventing them from using previous research items and predetermined ideas, both of which may lead to unreliable and unrealistic outcomes ( Ajzen, 2015 ).…”

An extended TPB model of waste-sorting intention: a case study of Indonesia

“…Previous studies found that one of the reasons people did not engage in waste-sorting behavior was a lack of knowledge. This knowledge also affected people's belief in their ability to sort waste (Oduro-appiah and Afful, 2022). Knowledge also influences people's perception of control over the behavior.…”

Time flies, waste piles: A bibliometric analysis of solid waste management research

“…In recent years, researchers have shown an increasing interest in solid waste management, possibly due to the mounting apprehension regarding waste's environmental and human health consequences. A commendable endeavour is the implementation of Proenvironmental interventions that are developed through participatory means to foster ethical propriety, accountability, reverence for the environment, and favourable emotions, which could enable households to segregate waste at its origin(Oduro-Appiah et al, 2022).…”