Improving household waste management in Indonesia: A mixed-methods approach for waste Sorting

This study explores effective interventions that improve household waste sorting and tests how labels, captions, and intervention campaigns enhance waste-sorting knowledge and improve waste-sorting practices. This study used a mixed–method approach using data collected from 29 households. The results from the survey were tested using a t-test comparison, the data obtained from the observation during the lab experiment were described, and the information from the interview was interpreted. The results show that the two interventions used in the study improved knowledge about waste and sorting practices. The results show significant differences between the groups before and after intervention exposure. Moreover, the findings highlighted that labels and captions do not help to reduce household waste generation. However, an intervention campaign was crucial in reducing the amount of waste produced by households. • Visual cues are vital for guiding proper waste sorting practices effectively. • The intervention campaign enhanced households' knowledge of correct waste sorting. • Combining visual cues with the campaign improves sorting and increases knowledge. • Combining visual cues with an intervention campaign strategy does not cut waste production but reduces improper disposal.