Which factors determine food waste-related behavior? Perspectives from households for local policymaking in developing countries

Abstract

Waste management (WM) is fundamental for sustainable development; however, practices and approaches vary between developed and developing countries. Costa Rica belongs to the latter group, and although the country has shown a steady commitment toward sustainability, WM and food waste (FW) interventions are still one major challenge. There is a research gap regarding household FW-related behavior and local governments’ performance in terms of sustainability. Therefore, our study aims to address this gap by analyzing the behavior of household FW generators, linking it to the WM actions of municipalities, and contributing to local policies. The study considered a sample of households in the Greater Metropolitan Area of the country to determine consumer drivers for waste, specifically regarding their intention to avoid FW, and conducted a structural equation model based on behavioral constructs. An expert consultation with the local government’s environmental managers was also performed to address their WM policy approach. The findings indicate household FW management is driven by values, perceived behavioral control, social norms, and socioeconomic characteristics but mainly by external aspects, such as local government enabling (or disabling) actions toward FW reduction. Opportunities and policy interventions could arise when local governments recognize the potential of sound WM alternatives, beginning with options for separate organic waste collection, and following with treatments to generate value and appropriate WM approaches.

Keywords:

• Food waste
• municipality
• social norms
• drivers
• municipal solid waste

Reviewing Editor:

• Escudero-Gilete M. Luisa, Senior Editor, Universidad de Sevilla, Spain

Subjects:

• Science
• Environmental Studies & Management
• Environment & the City
• Environmental Management
• Social Sciences
• Sociology & Social Policy

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank all the student assistants and municipality personnel who participated in this project. We deeply appreciate the support from the Research Department of Universidad de Costa Rica through the funding of project code C2354 (UN ENFOQUE BIOECONÓMICO PARA EL APROVECHAMIENTO DE LA PÉRDIDAS Y DESPERDICIOS DE ALIMENTOS), as well as for the support from the Consolidated Research Program of the Research Department of Tecnológico de Costa Rica.

Author contribution

Mercedes Montero-Vega: 1. Conceptualization, 2. Data curation, 3. Formal analysis, 4. Funding acquisition, 5. Investigation, 6. Methodology, 7. Project administration, 8. Resourses, 9. Software, 10. Supervision, 11. Validation, 12. Visualization, 13. Writing-original draft and 14. Writing- review and editing. Laura Brenes-Peralta: 1. Conceptualization, 3. Formal analysis, 5. Investigation, 10. Supervision, 11. Validation, 12. Visualization, 13. Writing-original draft and 14. Writing- review and editing. Diayner Baltodano-Zúniga: 1. Conceptualization, 2. Data curation, 3. Formal analysis, 5. Investigation, 9. Software, 11. Validation, 12. Visualization, 13. Writing-original draft and 14. Writing- review and editing. Manuel Enrique García-Barquero: 5. Investigation, 6. Methodology, 8. Resourses, 11. Validation.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare they do not have any conflicts of interest.

Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, [LBP], upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

Project code C2354 from Universidad de Costa Rica.

Notes on contributors

Mercedes Montero-Vega

Mercedes Montero-Vega, PhD in Environmental Economics and Rural Business Development, Professor of the Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness School of Universidad de Costa Rica. Research topics in food loss and waste, behavioral economics and bioeconomy.

Laura Patricia Brenes-Peralta

Laura Patricia Brenes-Peralta, PhD in Agricultural, Environmental and Food Science and Technology. Associate Professor and Researcher of the Agribusiness School of Tecnológico de Costa Rica. Research topics in food loss and waste, life cycle thinking and sustainable food systems.

Diayner Baltodano-Zúñiga

Diayner Baltodano-Zúñiga graduate in Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, instructor of the Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness School of Universidad de Costa Rica. Research topics in food loss and waste, and agricultural costing.

Manuel Enrique García-Barquero

Manuel Enrique García-Barquero posgraduate in Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, professor of the Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness School of Universidad de Costa Rica. Research topics in marketing and food loss and waste.