Analysis of Barriers to Rural Waste Management (Case Study: Central District of Urmia County)

Introduction: Planning for proper waste management and attention to its harmful effects on the environment in any country is one of the most important and necessary principles to provide long-term benefits and move towards sustainable development. The overall purpose of this study was to analyze the barriers to rural waste management in the central part of Urmia. In order to get a comprehensive understanding of the obstacles, problems and limitations that have caused the unfavorable management of rural waste in the studied area.
Material and methods: The research was applied in terms of purpose and data were collected in the field. The statistical population of the study included all villagers in the central part of Urmia city, in which rural waste management was performed (N = 136). The questionnaire was the main research tool that was designed using content review and interviews with experts and faculty members of the university. To evaluate its reliability, 30 questionnaires were completed and the Cronbach's alpha value was 0.91, which indicated the acceptable reliability of the questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software and exploratory factor analysis technique.
Results and discussion: The results of factor analysis showed that rural waste management barriers in six groups of educational-cultural barriers (variance dimension 18.13), health-environmental (variance dimension 18.06), knowledge (variance dimension 12.53), environmental (variance dimension 10.96), disposal management (variance dimension 10.24) and equipment (variance dimension 6.92) were classified as 76.84% of the total variance changes related to rural waste management barriers in the study area. In prioritizing the items of educational-cultural obstacles, the absence of the required culture regarding less consumption was the first rank. In terms of health-environmental obstacles, leaving and disposing of waste by villagers in the nearest place (on roads, along rivers, on the side of roads, etc.) and the occurrence of parasitic diseases for the villagers, was the first rank. In terms of knowledge barriers, lack of awareness and low knowledge of the villagers regarding the economic value of reusing agricultural residues was the first rank. In the disposal management factor, the lack of a separation plan at the source and as a result mixing wet, dry and special waste together was the first rank. Regarding the environmental factor, the presence of verminous insects and rodents and their increase at certain times of the year at the disposal site and roads until the time of garbage collection, was ranked first and finally among the factor factors. equipment, lack and lack of conversion industries for reuse of waste and agricultural residues, took the first place.
Conclusion: Empowering people through awareness, information and education using appropriate tools in the field of waste management can be helpful and practical. Coherent and purposeful management for waste management and success in improving environmental issues in the study area requires specific methods and strategic plans. Therefore, it is necessary to take the necessary planning and measures in this regard. It is also recommended to use the participation of people and NGOs to separate at the source and to organize informal activities of collection and recycling of materials in recycling programs, while it is necessary for municipalities, organizations and affiliated bodies. Assist the government in providing the facilities and equipment needed for rural waste management.