A Cross-Sectional Study of Knowledge, Practice, and Management of Solid Waste Segregation in Higher Educational Institutes: A Case Study in KSA

Abstract

Solid waste management is highly considered in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) for the protection of the environment, preserving resources, and producing energy. Solid waste is collected in bins from Qassim University (QU) as a mixture without any segregation processes. The key to obtaining university stakeholders’ involvement in the waste separation program is awareness coupled with participation. This study evaluates the stakeholders’ knowledge and practices related to solid waste separation at QU, KSA, as well as explores the current collection system of solid waste on the university’s campus. A self-administered questionnaire was designed to measure the knowledge and practices of QU stakeholders, as well as the existing management of solid waste in the University. The questionnaire consists of three sections; knowledge, practices, and actual waste management in QU. A total of corrected 437 responses were collected from QU demographic variables based on gender, language, age, and job. Frequency analysis, Chi-square test, t-test, and correlation test were utilized to estimate the average values and the association between the survey statements and demographic variables. The results revealed that the awareness level of respondents is high, and their application is good. Although fewer than 50% of the QU stakeholders have practiced waste separation at the generation site in specific bins, the majority are willing to do that with an agreement level of 98%. Additionally, the analysis proved that the solid waste is collected efficiently in QU but the waste separation at the generation point is poor. The responses of the participants implied that the most disposed of waste in QU is paper, followed by plastic. Teaching courses, workshops, and advertisements related to waste are recommended to increase awareness of the benefits of waste separation at the source, both economically and environmentally. The results of this study help the decision-makers in the programs’ implementation of sustainable development and resource reservation that is also consistent with KSA vision 2030.