Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Waste as an Environmental issue in the OECS: results of a KAP study
by
Peter A. Murray
OECS Environment and Sustainable Development Unit
Morne Fortuné
P.O. Box 1383
Castries
Saint Lucia
and
Tecla Fontenard
OECS Environment and Sustainable Development Unit
Morne Fortuné
P.O. Box 1383
Castries
Saint Lucia
Abstract
An environmental knowledge, attitudes and practice (KAP) survey was carried out in the
Participating Member States of the OECS Protected Areas and Associated Livelihoods project.
A total of 1,479 interviews were conducted: 1,334 “household” and 145 “departmental”
respondents. Data collection was facilitated by structured questionnaires and administered by
trained local interviewers with countrylevel supervision. Different questionnaires were used for
each of the two categories of respondents. Household sampling was nationally representative,
using enumeration districts stratified by parish. Respondents were full household residents aged
15 to 74 years who also satisfied other eligibility criteria. Department/agency representatives
were selected via convenience methods targeting appropriate entities.
Specifically with regard to improper garbage disposal, most respondents accepted it as a “high”
threat to the environment; this was more so in Dominica and least in St. Vincent and the
Grenadines. Across the countries, the perception of improper garbage disposal as a high threat
was most noticeable among the 3544 age group, yet lowest among respondents that had no more
than skills training or vocational education. The largest group of persons who saw improper
garbage disposal as being a major environmental threat saw themselves as being very familiar
with environmental issues. Similarly, persons who considered themselves very concerned about
environmental issues shared this view. Recycling was stated as being practiced most by persons
who claimed to be familiar with environmental issues, females and persons with at least
secondary education. No interactions among the aforecited categories were considered.
Key words
environmental threats; solid waste disposal; knowledge, attitude and practice;
Background
The OECS region is characterized by a rich biological diversity, which in combination with its
isolation from other areas, has resulted in relatively high rates of national and regional
endemism. In addition to exhibiting differing degrees of endemism, the islands of the region also
provide habitat and nesting sites for nonendemic migratory species. A 2003 survey conducted
by Conservation International identified the Caribbean as the fifth ranking “hot spot” and one of
the highest priorities in any global strategy for biodiversity conservation and sustainable
management.
Recognizing the importance of the sustainable management of its natural resources and rich
biodiversity, the Governments of the OECS Member States have made significant commitments
to protecting their countries' resources. Some of these include their status as signatories to
international conventions, the formulation and adoption of policy statements, legal and
institutional instruments, recent environmental programs, and financial support of conservation
activities through budget allocations. At the subregional level, the OECS Member States in the
year 2000 issued and subsequently endorsed the St. George's Declaration of Principles for
Environmental Sustainability in the OECS 1 (the SGD), which includes a commitment to the
conservation of biological diversity and the protection of areas of outstanding scientific, cultural,
spiritual, ecological, scenic and aesthetic significance. This commitment is also consistent with
the OECS Development Charter 2 .
The Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Survey – objectives and methodology
The OECS Secretariat, in 2007, conducted a survey on environmental awareness to assess
people’s knowledge of, potential attitude to, and practices, in relation to the environment 3 . This
KnowledgeAttitudePractice (KAP) Survey was seen as part of a broader commitment to
advance and promote the cause of environmental management based on sound research and
through the delivery of a comprehensive programme of training and education on the
environment 4 . With the practical data captured, the OECS Secretariat expects to be better able to
1
OECS, 2001
2
OECS, 2004
3
OECS, 2007b.
4
The private firm of Cultural Marketing Communication (Caribbean) Ltd. was contracted to manage the survey and
analyse the data gathered
2
develop the targeted environmental awareness strategies and management programmes, which
will ultimately lead to the desired “increase in public support for (and awareness of) biodiversity
conservation and sustainable management of Protected Areas…” Results of the survey are to
serve, not only as a resource for future public awareness program, but also to guide the
development and improvement of environmental management activities and for informing policy
development.
The overall goal of the survey was to assess public knowledge on environmental issues and
concerns and to seek to determine the extent to which environmental agencies and organizations
place emphasis on communicating with the public on the environment. Specifically, the survey
was designed to help the OECS Secretariat gain knowledge of:
Ø People’s opinions on environmental issues
Ø People’s attitudes in respect of the environment
Ø Satisfaction levels on information received on the environment
Ø Preferred information/media sources
The survey was initially designed to allow for broadbased participation based on a cluster
sampling plan that would capture an estimated two hundred and fifty (250) respondents per
Member State, this was subsequently changed to 225 due to cost considerations. The survey
instrument included a series of questions in the form of (a) multiple choice, and (b) open ended
with answer choice grids provided where applicable. Other considerations for the sampling plan
include:
Nationally representative household samples were selected via four (4) stages: (i) obtaining
descriptions (i.e. Enumeration Districts (EDs)) per country; (ii) identifying a single regional
sampling approach; (iii) selecting samples based on above; and (iv) preparing maps and
boundaries for field use. The EDs were stratified (parish), a random start point assigned, and
further selections made from population generated intervals, but taking into account requisite
number of country interviews (n = 225). Final EDs were clustered (approx. three (3) each),
allowing for parish spread, and proportionalitytopopulationsize. Target households were
selected from random start within EDs, target respondents being selected on a last birthday basis.
At household level, one member was selected and screened for eligibility. Only one (1) callback
was instituted, after which any failures to locate the target respondent resulted in replacement
(withinhousehold, according to nextbirthday; or next household, in any event of
vacant/ineligibility/refusals).
A total of 1,479 interviews were conducted: 1,334 “household” and 145 “departmental”
respondents. Data collection was facilitated by structured questionnaires and administered by
trained local interviewers with countrylevel supervision. Different questionnaires were used for
3
each category of respondents. Household sampling was nationally representative, using
enumeration districts stratified by parish. Respondents were full household residents aged 15 to
74 years who also satisfied other eligibility criteria. Department/agency representatives were
selected via convenience methods targeting appropriate entities.
Table 1. Number of Interviews completed per country
Households Departmental
Antigua & Barbuda 209 18
Dominica 222 25
Grenada 229 25
St. Kitts & Nevis 224 25
St. Lucia 225 27
St. Vincent & the 225 25
Grenadines
Data analyses used the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), with data imported
into that programme from the ASCII format in which entered. No interactions among categories
were considered.
Results
The results following were from the household survey 5 . While, across the study area, some
individuals claimed to be “very familiar” with environmental issues (18.0%), the majority (58.1)
regarded themselves as “somewhat familiar”. Figures 1 and 2 show the distribution of
perceptions regarding the roles and responsibility for environmental maintenance, whether
individuals or government respectively.
Figure 1
Individuals have a role in environmental
maintenance
70
60
strongly agree
% responses
50
agree
40
neither
30
disagree
20
10 strongly disagree
0
ANU DOM GRE SKN SLU SVG
5
OECS, 2007b.
4
On average across the six countries studied, more persons (45.8%) accepted the individual’s role
in environmental maintenance than thought that government was responsible (27.2%).
Figure 2
Government is responsible for maintaining the
environment
40
35
strongly agree
% response
30
25 agree
20 neither
15 disagree
10
strongly disagree
5
0
ANU DOM GRE SKN SLU SVG
Figure 3 indicates acceptance that responsibility for environmental problems remains mainly
with residents of a country. This view was shared by 34.9% of respondents, on average across
the countries studied.
Figure 3
Most environmental problems caused by people
inside the country
50
40 strongly agree
% responses
agree
30
neither
20
disagree
10 strongly disagree
0
ANU DOM GRE SKN SLU SVG
5
The following results from the household survey relate to the issue of garbage disposal. Figure 4
shows respondents perception with regard to the change in the amount of solid waste produced.
Figure 4
Perceived change in solid waste in the past 5
years
% respondents
80 67.8
60
40
15.3
20 6 6.1 4.9
0
increase decrease no change both increase do not
and decrease know/not
sure
percieved change in solid waste production
Figure 5 shows that on average, across the study area, most persons thought that improper
garbage disposal is a threat to the environment. This view was most prevalent in Dominica,
followed by Saint Lucia and least in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (figure 6)
Figure 5
Perceived threat level average
100
82.4
80
% responses
60
40
14.7
20
1.7 1.2
0
High Low none not sure
perceived threat level
6
Figure 6
Perceived high threats by country
95
90.5 89.8
90
% response
85
79.8 79.3 79.3
80
75.6
75
70
65
ANU DOM GRE SKN SLU SVG
The perception that improper waste disposal is an important threat to the environment was most
prevalent among the 3544 year age group and least among the 1524 age group (figure 7).
Figure 7
Perceived high threats by age range
88 87.1
86
% responses
84 82.7
81.7
82
80 79.1
78
76
74
15 24 25 34 35 44 45 +
age range (y)
7
This perception was also least among those whose education was limited to primarily the skills
or vocational level and highest among those who had no formal education (figure 8).
Figure 8
Perceived high threats by stated education level
95 89.1
86.7
% response
90 84.8
85 82.7 82.7
80.3
80 76.3
75
70
65
v
e
y
al
ry
oc
st
i
ar
Un
rm
da
Po
le
/v
im
l
ills
f o
Co
pr
co
sk
No
se
education level
Most persons who considered themselves familiar with (figure 9) or very concerned about
(figure 10) environmental issues, perceived improper waste disposal as posing a high threat to
environmental maintenance.
Figure 9
Percieved high threat by level of familiarity with environmental
issues
95 90.8
90
% response
85 82.7
80 75.7
75
70
65
very somewhat not
stated familiarity with environmental isues
8
Figure 10
Percieved high threat by level of concern about environmental
issues
60 46.2
40
20
0
none little average high very high
stated concern about environmental issues
Figure 11 shows that greater familiarity with environmental issues tended to lead to a slightly
higher tendency to recycle waste.
Figure 11
Recycling as a function of familiarity with
environmental issues
80 74.5
69.7
59
% responses
60
41 Yes
40 30.3
25.5 No
20
0
Very Somewhat Not
stated familiarity with environmental issues
9
Females tended to recycle a bit more than males (figure 12)
Figure 12
Recycling as a function of gender
80 70.5
70 63.7
% responses
60
50
36.3 Yes
40 29.5
30 No
20
10
0
Male Female
gender
The tendency to recycle increased with educational level attained (figure 13).
Figure 13
Recycling as a function of educational level
attained
% responses
e
y
y
d
al
y
oc
sit
ar
ar
ra
rm
le
/V
nd
im
g
l
ve
f o
Co
st
ills
Pr
co
Po
i
No
Un
Sk
Se
stated educational level
Discussion
We have presented these results as a point of departure for further discussion. It is of note
however that improper waste disposal is generally accepted as threatening the environment and
this perception appears to increase with exposure to information on, and familiarity with,
environmental issues. Whether this is as a consequence of age, education or otherwise is a matter
worth investigating further. What is also interesting is that most of the respondents with no
10
formal education saw improper waste disposal as a significant environmental threat. This begs
the question whether this is a consequence of their acquiring “handson” experience in this
regard, yet respondents with mainly vocational training were least concerned with waste disposal
as a threat to the environment. We would not be so precipitate as to suggest that this may be a
consequence of the fact that “vocational” trades in the region are solid waste generating.
The use of recycling as a waste management tool follow a similar trend to the perception of
improper waste disposal as a threat to the environment except that respondents with secondary
education are among the more frequent users of recycling. It may be suggested that this is a
consequence of the fact that a number of secondary school curricular propose waste recycling as
either a civic duty or an environmental management activity.
We commend these results to your consideration, mindful of the commitment by OECS Member
States, pursuant to goal 3 of the Revised St. Georges Declaration of Principles for Environmental
Sustainability in the OECS (the Revised SGD) 6 , to develop policies and strategies to address
creative and sustainable management of solid waste by 2010 and within the context of the draft
New Treaty of the OECS 7 , in which the Revised SGD has been enshrined.
References
Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), 2001. St. Georges Declaration of Principles
for Environmental Sustainability in the OECS. Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States,
Saint Lucia. 35p.
Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), 2004. OECS Development Charter: Our
Vision of the Future. Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States, Saint Lucia. 48p.
Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), 2007a. St. Georges Declaration of
Principles for Environmental Sustainability in the OECS: Revised 2006. Organisation of
Eastern Caribbean States, Saint Lucia. 30p.
Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), 2007b. Environmental Awareness in the
OECS: Report of a KAP (Knowledge, Attitude and Practice) Survey conducted in Six
OECS Member States. Final Report 18 August 2007. OECS Environment and Sustainable
Development Unit, Saint Lucia. 191p.
Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), 2008. The Organisation of Eastern
Caribbean States: Draft of the New Treaty. Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States, Saint
Lucia. 68p.
World Bank, 2004. OECS Protected Areas and Associated Livelihoods Project: Project
Appraisal Document. Caribbean Country Management Unit, Environmentally and Socially
Sustainable Development Sector Management Unit, Latin America and Caribbean Region.
6
OECS, 2007a. Goal 3 of the revised SGD is to achieve the longterm protection and sustained productivity of the
region’s natural resource base and the ecosystem services it provides; one of the desired outcomes of this goal being
that environmental quality is not diminished by pollution and waste.
7
OECS, 2008
11
Report No. 28621. International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the World Bank),
Washington, DC. 121p.
12