Understanding solid waste generation in a sociological perspective

Abstract

Over the past few decades, there has been a global trend of sociologists paying special attention to environmental issues. The main objective of this study is to analyze the social aspects of solid waste generation, covering the existing research gaps in the field of research beyond the Anuradhapura District and the North Central Province. The sub objectives were identifying the social definitions on solid waste, understanding the relationship between gender and solid waste generation and identifying the correlation between sociocultural value factors with solid waste generation using survey data collected from three Wards of Anuradhapura Municipal counsel in the Anuradhapura District. Under the Survey method, observations and in-depth interviews were used as key data collection tools in this study. According to the study it was identified that the solid waste generation influenced in order to gender and socio-cultural aspects. Socialization plays a major role in definite the Solid Waste and regarding the knowledge on solid waste among the society. Reuse and reducing the solid waste have become a role of the women in the Sri Lankan context. Women play a major role in waste generation as they have the power to control the waste generation and the waste management. It can be concluded that apart from the science and scientific theories, the knowledge regarding both solid wastes generation and defining the solid waste come through the social education and social knowledge. The cognition of ordinary people and their local knowledge are as important as theoretical approaches and scientific teachings.