Path analysis of factors influencing household solid waste generation: a case study of Xiamen Island, China

Comprehensive study of the factors influencing household solid waste (HSW) generation is crucial and fundamental for exploring the generation mechanism and forecasting future dynamics of HSW. A case study of Xiamen Island, China was employed to reveal the direct and indirect effects of demographic/s...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of material cycles and waste management 2016-04, Vol.18 (2), p.377-384
Main Authors: Xu, Lilai, Lin, Tao, Xu, Ying, Xiao, Lishan, Ye, Zhilong, Cui, Shenghui
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age
Analysis
Case studies
China
Civil Engineering
Correlation analysis
Demographics
Dynamic tests
Dynamics
Employment
Engineering
Environmental Management
Family size
Households
Mathematical models
Municipal solid waste
Organic wastes
Original Article
Population
Questionnaires
Religion
Socioeconomic factors
Socioeconomics
Solid waste management
Solid wastes
Studies
Urbanization
Waste disposal
Waste management
Waste Management/Waste Technology
Wastes
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Summary:Comprehensive study of the factors influencing household solid waste (HSW) generation is crucial and fundamental for exploring the generation mechanism and forecasting future dynamics of HSW. A case study of Xiamen Island, China was employed to reveal the direct and indirect effects of demographic/socioeconomic factors on solid waste generation at the urban household scale. Based on a face-to-face questionnaire and two-stage survey of solid waste generation, a path analysis model was built. Results showed that the proposed path model exhibited good fit indices. Family size and dinning-at-home rate (DR), whose coefficients were −0.40 and 0.43, respectively, were the two major factors influencing HSW directly. Moreover, family size, education level, employment rate and age structure played different degrees of indirect effects on HSW generation through respective paths, which should not be ignored. In terms of total effects, coefficients of family size, DR and employment rate were −0.46, 0.43 and −0.37, respectively, which were three most dominant factors influencing HSW generation. As for waste composition, organic waste was the most representative of HSW dynamics, and was the most sensitive to impact by the factors studied. Quantitative results of this study have important policy implications for sustainable municipal solid waste management.
ISSN:1438-4957
1611-8227
DOI:10.1007/s10163-014-0340-0