Assessment of Household Attitudes and Behavioural Patterns towards Solid Waste Management in Almora Town, Uttarakhand

Abstract

Urban and semi-urban areas face growing challenges in solid waste management. In addition to its environmental impact, it has a direct impact on health, daily activities, and local economies of the societies. Unlike large urban centers and towns, hilly areas are marked by fragile ecosystems, inadequate infrastructure, and rapid urbanization and dense tourism activities, making solid waste management more complicated and hazardous. This study focuses on households’ awareness, attitudes, and practices of managing solid waste. Socio-demographic factors such as household size, gender, income, and occupation influence waste generation patterns and waste volumes. The findings highlight a pronounced 'knowledge-action gap’ among the sample respondents. While 86.15% of respondents accept that solid waste management is a moral responsibility, only 45.64% segregate waste at source. In households with an average of 4.91 members, municipal services and behavioural barriers are still major challenges in managing solid waste at source. The study reported limited training in solid waste management (1.54%), irregular household waste collection, mostly once in every fourth day (39.49%) and once in a week (20.00%), and overall, approximately 54.36% dispose of waste improperly- by the roadside, in water bodies, in pits, and in open spaces and others collectively, while only 45.64% use public dustbins to dispose of the waste. Among respondents, 44.62% put e-waste in common dustbins. As segregation at source is key to solid waste management, building infrastructure and imposing rules and regulations alone is insufficient for sustainable solid waste management in Almora town. To effectively manage waste in Almora and similar hill towns, a human-centred approach is required, incorporating targeted awareness campaigns, practical facilities and training for waste segregation and disposal, and stronger community participation. Developing door-to-door waste collection systems and integrating all stakeholders may solve the solid waste management problems and fill the gap between knowledge and action.