Title: Community participation components clustering and association with demographic characteristics in garbage management: a case study in Penajam Paser Utara Regency, Indonesia

Authors: Syamsiah; Krishna Purnawan Candra; Harihanto; Henny Pagoray

Addresses: Postgraduate Program for Environmental Science of Mulawarman University, Samarinda, 75119, Indonesia ' Postgraduate Program for Environmental Science of Mulawarman University, Samarinda, 75119, Indonesia; Department of Agricultural Product Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, Mulawarman University, Samarinda, 75119, Indonesia ' Postgraduate Program for Environmental Science of Mulawarman University, Samarinda, 75119, Indonesia; Department of Social Development, Faculty of Social and Politics, Mulawaman University, Samainda, 75119, Indonesia ' Postgraduate Program for Environmental Science of Mulawarman University, Samarinda, 75119, Indonesia; Department of Aquaculture, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science, Mulawarman University, Samarinda, 75119, Indonesia

Abstract: A cross-sectional study in Penajam Paser Utara (PPU) Regency, Indonesia, assessed garbage management performance and factors influencing community participation. It involved 396 purposively sampled respondents from 22 villages across four sub-districts. Community participation was categorised into garbage handling (proper disposal and handling) and garbage processing (environment cleaning, paying retribution, attending cleanliness meetings, garbage management, and reduction). Garbage management in PPU was rated very good (94%) despite inadequate environmental board infrastructure, attributed to strong community participation. Significant demographic factors included gender, district population density, family size, education level, occupation, and income, with education and income showing the strongest associations. Age was not significant. These findings underscore the importance of community involvement and its demographic links for effective garbage management in developing areas.

Keywords: developing regions; environmental pollution; garbage handling; garbage processing; Indonesia.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2026.155080

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2026 Vol.40 No.3, pp.237 - 257

Received: 14 Jul 2024
Accepted: 10 Dec 2024
Published online: 27 Jul 2026 *

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