Title: Public perspectives and strategies in implementing waste separation in developing countries: a case study in Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Authors: Laurentius Kevin Hendinata; Tantri Ardiwinata

Addresses: Departamento de Engenharia Civil, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, 3030-788, Portugal; Department of Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, 55281, Indonesia ' Energy and Biotechnology Laboratory, School of Earth Science and Environmental Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju, 61005, South Korea; Faculty of Biotechnology, Universitas Surabaya, Surabaya, 60293, Indonesia

Abstract: Effective waste management includes waste separation to minimise landfill usage and recover valuable resources. Nonetheless, the success of waste separation initiatives relies heavily on public engagement. This study investigates the challenges and prospects of implementing waste separation programs in a developing country, focusing on public perception. Specifically, the research examines Yogyakarta, Indonesia, and its residents' perspective toward waste separation. A survey of 775 households conducted using stratified random sampling method was used in this study for three months to collect the data. The questions were multiple choices with Likert scale to quantify it. The data was analysed thoroughly with 95% confidence levels and Pearson correlation heatmap was used to round up the results. From this research, while residents recognise the benefits of waste separation, barriers such as deficient infrastructure and limited education persist. The study emphasises the importance of addressing these challenges to garner public support for sustainable waste management.

Keywords: waste separation; public perception; waste management; developing country; Indonesia.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2025.148759

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2025 Vol.38 No.2, pp.225 - 240

Received: 21 Aug 2023
Accepted: 30 Jan 2024
Published online: 23 Sep 2025 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article