Social capital as a key predictor in solid rural waste management: A case study of rural residents in Iran

The rapid increase in population and heightened human activities have led to significant waste generation, posing challenges even in rural communities. Despite the importance of this issue, there is a clear shortage of research focused on the connection between social capital dynamics and waste management practices in these settings. To address this gap, this study investigates the relationship between social capital and solid waste management behaviors in rural areas, in the Semirom region of Isfahan province, Iran. Data were collected from 150 rural residents using a simple random sampling method and a questionnaire interview in 2024. Metrics for solid waste management and components of social capital were computed, and data analysis was conducted using the Pearson correlation coefficient, artificial neural networks, and stepwise regression. The results indicated a strong correlation (0.76) between the overall social capital index and solid rural waste management scores, with social capital identified as a more crucial predictor of solid waste management practices than socio-economic factors. Among the components of social capital, social ethics, and social participation were found to have a positive and significant impact on solid waste management behaviors, with each unit increase in social ethics improving waste management behavior by approximately 1.41 units and each unit increase in social participation enhancing it by about 0.76 units. The study concludes that strengthening waste management practices in rural areas can be achieved by improving social capital and promoting greater community participation through education and engagement initiatives. • Social capital significantly leads to the improvement of rural waste management. • Social ethics is the most important component affecting rural waste management. • Rural men play an important role in the unfavorable management of rural waste.