Assessing public perception and parametric analysis of municipal solid waste management solutions in Tabuk City, Saudi Arabia

Accelerated urbanization, population growth, and industrial revolution have resulted in significant environmental degradation and health issues for residents due to municipal solid waste. The effective management of solid waste is a significant issue, especially in developing economies, where improper waste disposal leads to economic losses and adverse impacts on environmental and public health. This study evaluates existing waste management procedures in Tabuk City in northern Saudi Arabia, finds significant challenges, and suggests possible solutions. For this purpose, this study administered a survey to assess public awareness regarding municipal solid waste recycling and management. Therefore, a two-stage analytic investigation was conducted that included a total of 228 respondents from Tabuk City, Saudi Arabia. Among them, 62.28% were male, and 37.72% were female, with the largest age group represented was 22-35 years, accounting for 42.10% of participants. The questionnaire responses were evaluated using SPSS V27, and relative scores were analyzed using SHapley Additive exPlanations and Partial Dependence Plots. Based on the study results, most respondents are knowledgeable and worried about the adverse environmental effects of solid waste. The Pearson correlation highlighted that lack of awareness with responsible authorities exhibited the highest positive correlations with recycling behavior improvement, with respective correlation values of + 0.55. The results also revealed an absence of recycling systems since the majority of respondents were uninformed of existing practices and expressed a readiness to engage in recycling programs if established. Further, parametric modeling illustrates that most of the participants believe that lack of awareness along with authority responsibility is the most influential factor impacting poor waste management practice. The study concluded by highlighting the necessity for an organized municipal solid waste recycling system, enhanced community education, and more stringent governmental restrictions to mitigate environmental damage and foster sustainable waste management in Tabuk.