Factors Related to Solid Waste Management Behaviors of Residents in Tha Khlong Town Municipality

Abstract

          The objectives of this research were: 1) to study the level of solid waste management (SWM) behaviors among residents, 2) to examine perceptions of Tha Khlong residents regarding SWM information disseminated through municipal communication channels and promotional projects, 3) to examine the level of public participation in SWM, 4) to compare SWM behaviors based on personal factors, 5) to examine the relationship between perception of municipal communication channels and promotional projects and SWM behaviors, and 6) to examine the relationship between public participation and SWM behaviors. The sample consisted of 398 residents living in the Tha Khlong Municipality area, determined by using the Taro Yamane formula for sample size calculation. Data were collected using questionnaires and analyzed by statistical methods, including frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, independent samples t-test, one-way ANOVA, chi-square test, and Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r), with the significance level set of .05.

          The research findings indicated that the SWM behavior of the residents in Tha Khlong Municipality was at a moderate level. The perception of information regarding waste management from the municipality's public relations channels and the perception of the municipality's SWM promotion projects were also at a moderate level. Overall public participation was found to be at a moderate level. Hypothesis testing revealed that some personal factors, namely; age, occupation, number of family members and duration of habitance, had a significant difference in relation to waste management behavior, while gender and educational level showed no significant difference. It was found that the perception of information from the municipality's public relations channels and the perception of the municipality's waste management promotion projects were significantly correlated with the residents' SWM behavior. Furthermore, participation in decision-making, implementation, benefits taking and evaluation were significantly correlated with the residents' waste management behavior at the level of .05.