Assessing Household's Municipal Waste Segregation Intentions in Metropolitan Cities of Pakistan: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach

There is a growing concern about inappropriate waste disposal and its negative impact on human health and the environment. The objective of this study is to understand household waste segregation intention considering psychological, institutional, and situational factors simultaneously. Insights into the motivations of household waste segregation drivers may assist in a better knowledge of how to pursue the most efficient and effective initiatives. For this purpose, data from a representative sample comprising 849 households is obtained from the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi (Pakistan). The empirical analysis employs a Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) approach, showing that policy instruments have significant direct and indirect impacts on households' segregation intentions. The results highlight that government policy instruments strengthen personal and perceived norms for waste segregation intentions, resulting in an external intervention that would encourage intrinsic motivation. Therefore, policy actions become the main entry point for initiating waste segregation behavior. Public policy must continue to emphasize waste segregation since it may help resource recovery. This is imperative because the environment is a shared resource, and its conservation increases social welfare.

Investigating the nexus among sulfur dioxide emission, energy consumption, and economic growth: empirical evidence from Pakistan

Developing countries like Pakistan majorly depend on fossil fuels for achieving higher economic growth but have sloppy environmental rules and regulations in order to attract foreign direct investment (FDI). As a result, energy consumption is considered the primary cause of environmental degradation. Besides CO₂ emission, environmental degradation is also associated with emission of sulfur dioxide (SO₂). The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship among SO₂ emissions, energy consumption, economic growth, and FDI in Pakistan. By applying the 3SLS method, study has estimated the scale effect, composition effect, and technique effect. The scale effect and technique effect findings indicated that capital stock, FDI, and SO₂ emissions all had a significant impact on GDP. When the capital accumulation effects of FDI were considered, the relationship between FDI and stock of capital was found to be positive. According to the technique effect results, FDI, population density, and energy consumption were all significantly related to SO₂ emissions. The study came to a conclusion with significant policy implications.

The impasse of energy consumption coupling with pollution haven hypothesis and environmental Kuznets curve: a case study of South Asian economies

This study investigates the role of energy consumption in environmental degradation and checks the validity of the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) and pollution haven hypothesis (PHH) for the South Asian economies. The model is also controlled for population growth. The dynamic panel data model is estimated through Fully Modified Ordinary Least Square (FMOLS) rigorously. The results reject the possibility of the existence of EKC but ensure the prevalence of PHH. The study suggests that the South Asian countries should focus on attracting clean foreign investment, whereas the renewable energy production is critical for climate change mitigation. The study also stresses the financial institutions' active role in providing easy loans for promoting research and development in environmentally friendly production practices.

Investigating correlations between illness and defensive behaviour approach: A case of twin cities of Pakistan

Municipal solid waste (MSW) management has emerged as a major problem for modern societies in recent decades. An optimal waste management system is essential to prevent the pollution burden and associated health related issues. This study carries out an empirical evaluation of the illness caused by inadequate solid waste management in the metropolitan of Rawalpindi-Islamabad. The model is based on utility-maximizing consumer behavior and predicted probability of disease in the household is estimated by employing “seemingly uncorrelated bivariate probit model”. Primary data obtained through multistage random sampling that comprises of 849 respondents. The findings show that irregular waste disposal sites in the vicinity of residences cause illness. The key findings indicate that distance from dumpsites and use of contaminated water adversely affect the health outcomes. Furthermore, the results show that respondents were unable to engage in defensive activities due to a lack of awareness. Oft-times, the waste is dumped in illegal sites that is burnt thus causing excessive air and ground water pollution. The results shed light on the respondents' understanding of the negative consequences of excessive waste disposal and study suggests measures that motivate households to engage in defensive activities through effective campaigns and capacity building programmes that ensure sustainable solid waste management.

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An overview of the household solid waste generation and management practices.

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Construct households' illness function regarding improper waste disposal practices.

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Construct households' defensive behaviour regarding illness function.

Testing the Role of Waste Management and Environmental Quality on Health Indicators Using Structural Equation Modeling in Pakistan

Improper management of municipal waste has become a growing concern globally due to its impact on the environment, health, and overall living conditions of households in cities. Waste production has increased because households do not adopt waste management practices that ensure sustainability. Previous studies on household waste management often considered socio-economic aspects and overlooked the environmental and behavioral factors influencing the disposal practices and health status. This study adopted four constructs, defensive attitude, environmental knowledge, environmental quality, and waste disposal, by employing a structural equation modeling approach to explore research objectives. Data from 849 households of the Islamabad-Rawalpindi metropolitan was collected by using a multi-stage sampling technique. The structural model results showed that the two constructs, environmental knowledge and defensive behavior, positively affect household health status. The most significant health-related considerations are waste disposal and environmental quality, both of which negatively impact health status and do not support our hypothesis. The results provide valuable perspectives to enable households to engage actively in waste management activities. The findings indicate that understanding the intentions of household health status drivers can assist policymakers and agencies in promoting an efficient and successful community programmes related to sustainable solid waste management by allowing them to foster how the desired behavior can be achieved.