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The impact of socio-economic factors on waste generation in the UAE
Daoud, Omar Walid Omar
Daoud, Omar Walid Omar
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Description
A Master of Science thesis in Engineering Systems Management by Omar Walid Omar Daoud entitled, “The impact of socio-economic factors on waste generation in the UAE”, submitted in April 2024. Thesis advisor is Dr. Vian Ahmed. Soft copy is available (Thesis, Completion Certificate, Approval Signatures, and AUS Archives Consent Form).
Abstract
Solid waste generation rates have surged due to changing lifestyles, consumption patterns, global urbanization, and industrialization, posing a significant environmental challenge, mainly as waste production in the UAE has grown substantially over the past decade, driven by population growth and economic expansion. With the population expected to continue rising, the situation is worsened by a lack of awareness. Addressing this issue requires reducing waste production and involving the public in effective waste management practices. Hence, this thesis aims to investigate the socio-economic impact of the UAE's waste generation and recycling behavior by using the American University of Sharjah (AUS) as a case study involving a sample size of 400 participants to understand community behavior toward recycling, significant socio-economic influence, and recommendations for improving waste management strategies. The Structural Equation Model (SEM) is applied for data analysis and the subsequent development of the final model. The SEM’s fit summary revealed a Chi-Square of 1724.1465, a Standardized RMR (SRMR) of 0.0623, Goodness of Fit Index (GFI) of 0.7579, Adjusted GFI (AGFI) of 0.7208, RMSEA Estimate of 0.0766, and Comparative Fit Index (CFI) of 0.8697. The results suggest a highly positive recycling attitude directly related to the participant's propensity to involve themselves in recycling, which the SEM undoubtedly confirms. Conversely, the results suggest that although financial motivations are dominant, they do not significantly motivate recycling behaviors, which may suggest that intrinsic motivations outweigh extrinsic motives. Moreover, the results suggest that improved awareness positively predicts recycling behaviors: informed students will be actively involved in the recycling program. Additionally, the SEM analysis provided P-values showing significant support for the paths from attitude, awareness, and challenges to the overall behaviour, while the motivation path was not supported. The recommendations aim to foster a more sustainable environment by introducing a recycling-centric culture within the community, significantly reducing waste generation through targeted educational programs, economic incentives, and infrastructural improvements to facilitate effective waste management.