Enhanced Income Levels Increase Organic Waste Generation: A Regression-based Modelling of Associated Factors

AbstractThe study was conducted in Ludhiana district of Punjab (India) to understand the effect of income on organic waste generation. An ex-post facto research design was used for the investigation and a total of 80 dairy farmers were selected randomly for the study, grouped as small and large dairy farmers. Results revealed that majority of the farmers had very high annual income from dairy farming followed by low annual income group. Multiple regression model comprising of waste generation factors leading to variation in annual income was developed for rural setup. Results revealed that increase in income leads to significant (p<0.01) increase in crop residue burning, agricultural waste generation, household waste generation, per capita waste generation and total organic waste generation. The study was concluded with the impression that increase in income increases the amount spent on ease of living, thereby decreasing the sustainable use of organic waste.