Household attitudes and behaviour toward sustainable food waste management : a case study in residential estates

Abstract

Being a densely populated city, Hong Kong is now facing a serious waste problem. According to waste disposal statistics from Environment Protection Department, 9,547 tonnes of municipal solid waste were generated every day in Hong Kong in 2013. Food waste was the major composition in the MSW, accounting for 38% of MSW in 2013, whereas over 70% of food waste was generated from the residential sector. Since 2005, the government has introduced various schemes and policies with the objectives of waste reduction and development of sustainable waste management system. In this connection, changes in individual household attitudes and bebaviour to support the sustainable food waste management are detrimental to achieving the goal of waste reduction in Hong Kong. Therefore, this study will focus on examining the household attitudes and behaviour toward the sustainable food waste management in residential estates. Recommendations will be made on enhancing public involvement of residential sector in sustainable food waste management according to the findings of questionnaire survey.