Behavior of Food Waste Management by Community in Phuket Municipality

Abstract

          This research aimed to 1) study the behavior of food waste management in communities, 2) compare the behavior of food waste management in communities classified by personal factors, 3) study the relationship between personal factors and food waste management behavior in communities, and 4) recommend food waste management in communities in Phuket City Municipality. The sample group was people involved in food waste management from the beginning, middle, and end, including the public, community leaders of 17 communities, and officers of the Phuket City Municipality Environmental Group. A purposive interview was conducted with 57 people to comprehensively answer the research objectives. Descriptive statistics were used, namely, mean, standard deviation, and Chi-square test for the relationship between variables to analyze the data in terms of content analysis. The results of the research found that:

1. The community's food waste management behavior is that food waste is managed from the beginning by sorting containers and putting up public relations signs. It was found that there were 2 communities, Saphan Ruam 2 Community and the Community behind the City Hall, that separated food waste to make organic fermented water and fermented it into fertilizer in household aerated compost bins (the bins are never full), which showed the most obvious tangible results.


2. The behavioral level of food waste management in communities in Phuket City Municipality in all 5 issues, namely food waste disposal, food waste sorting, food waste awareness campaign, food waste reduction planning, food waste disposal guidelines, found that the behavior was at a moderate level with a mean value of 2.34 and a standard deviation of .18.


3. The results of the comparison of personal factors in 5 areas: gender, age, occupation, education level, monthly income, found that gender, age, occupation, monthly income and food waste management behavior of communities in Phuket Municipality were not statistically different (p > 0.05). As for education level, there were statistical differences (p < 0.05).


4. Food waste, if separated from the beginning, will create sustainable benefits that benefit the economy, society, and the environment. Food waste that is in good condition should be directly used, such as animal feed. If it is spoiled, it should be anaerobically fermented to produce biogas and composted for further use in Phuket Municipality.