Analyzing People’s Behavior towards Minimizing Municipal Solid Waste in Bechar City in Algeria

Abstract

We are afraid to breathe the air because we don’t know what chemicals are in it, we make so much waste. Therefore, we should find solutions to reduce this waste and we should fight to solve our future. Most of waste can be treated by incineration, composting or landfill. However, all these methods cause air, water and soil pollution, which is harmful to human health, plants, and animals. Therefore, developed countries promote waste prevention reduction, reuse, and recycling. The quantity of municipal solid waste in Bechar city is increasing every year, and this is due to the lack of people’s participation in reduce, reuse and recycle. This research analyzes people’s behavior towards reducing municipal solid waste in Bechar city in Algeria. Firstly, it depended on the collection of information for the period 2006-2013 from the Environmental Directorate of Bechar city. Secondly, it used a quantitative analysis based on a survey which has addressed randomly 400 residents in Bechar city from September 2013 to November 2013, but only 312 were available to analyze. Thirdly, it used “SPAD” software as a qualitative method to analyze the database by factorial analysis of multiple correspondences “FAMC” method. And finally, it included that people help for reducing the use of plastic bags, but they don’t participate in reusing principal. In addition, there is a lack in knowledge and culture of recyclable products. And people in their majorities were affected by both cultural and political factors to minimize waste, and the rest didn’t comply with these factors.

DOI: 10.5901/jesr.2014.v4n1p317