Resident Perception on Waste Management and Technology Adoption in Korean Residential Living Environments : Focusing on a Survey from Apartment Residents in Korea

Purpose: This study aims to analyze the current status and perception of household waste management among residents in multi-family housing complexes. This study identifies key challenges in waste disposal, evaluates residents’ satisfaction with current systems, and explores the perceived necessity and acceptance of potential technological and policy interventions. Method: A structured survey was conducted with 1,000 residents across various housing types to collect data on waste generation types, disposal inconveniences, satisfaction levels, conflict experiences, and preferred solutions. The survey results were statistically analyzed to identify behavioral patterns and improvement needs. Key indicators such as disposal method satisfaction, conflict occurrence, and willingness to adopt automated systems were also examined. Result: The findings reveal that food waste disposal is the most inconvenient process, primarily due to the need to transport it to designated locations and temporary in-home storage. Residents expressed low satisfaction with current waste management systems (only 43.4% satisfied), and over 69% showed a strong preference for automated food waste systems and recycling reward schemes. Furthermore, 36% of respondents highlighted a lack of community awareness and policy as fundamental issues. The results suggest that implementing user-friendly, incentive-based waste management systems could significantly improve sustainability and resident satisfaction in dense housing environments.