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- Title
Single-use plastic bags: challenges, consumer's behavior, and potential intervention policies.
- Authors
Taghipour, Hassan; Mohammadpoorasl, Asghar; Tarfiei, Mahdihe; Jafari, Nasrin
- Abstract
Currently, single-use plastic bag consumption and disposal are a global concern. The main aim of this study was to examine the logic and behaviors behind tendencies toward plastic bag use, determine the amount of plastic bag consumption, and assess the current regulation and condition of management of plastic bags in Iran. The plastic bag consumption rate was estimated using a web-based cross-sectional, self-reported survey questionnaire. Meanwhile, a questionnaire was developed in Google form to evaluate consumer behaviors and attitudes. Totally, 1834 people participated in the study done with accessed sampling method. The independent sample t test, Pearson's correlation, one-way analysis of variance, and chi-square test were used in data analysis. A combination of methods was used to assess current regulation and management. Then, some potential intervention strategies are presented for problem mitigation. The single-use plastic bag consumption is estimated to be 0.83 per capita per day, 69.72 million per day, and 25.45 billion per year in the country, while their waste is generally disposed of in dumpsites and unsanitary landfills or scattered in the environment. About 92.7% of Iran's people utilize single-use plastic bags, and their easy (free) availability is announced as the main reason for using them. However, the interesting point is that 86.7% of people do a kind of secondary use of plastic bags, and 92.4% are familiar with the major environmental effects of plastic bags. The majority of people (78.2%) agree and compromise for putting in the application of a kind of strategy for plastic bag minimization. So, applying practical interventions and policies such as banning the free presentation of bags, introducing some kinds of tax, and simultaneously better management of waste bags are necessary to reduce relevant environmental effects.
- Subjects
IRAN; SINGLE-use plastics; PLASTIC bags; CONSUMER behavior; PLASTIC scrap; CONSUMER attitudes
- Publication
Journal of Material Cycles & Waste Management, 2023, Vol 25, Issue 6, p3404
- ISSN
1438-4957
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s10163-023-01763-z