Solid waste management: Greek citizens' knowledge and attitudes

Over the last decades there is a widespread recognition of several environmental issues as pressing problems for both the earth system and human beings. Relevant scientific research is carried out in order to support sustainable environmental management and the future development of humanity. It is widely documented that human activities at a personal and/or a societal level play a significant role for both the formation and resolution of environmental problems, as well as that the implementation of any environmental management policy requires public awareness and participation. One of the most important contemporary environmental problems related to the citizens' everyday life is waste management. This paper presents the outcomes of a study concerning Greek citizens' self-estimated knowledge, factual knowledge, attitudes about waste management and Suggestions for reducing solid waste. The sample of the study consisted of 300 Greek citizens, and was balanced in respect to gender, level of education, age, and region of residence. Empirical data were collected by the use of a questionnaire that consisted of both open and closed questions. The results of the survey and specifically the interpretations of the identified correlations between the citizens' self-estimated knowledge, knowledge, attitudes, suggestions and demographic characteristics yielded interesting issues that should be taken into account for the promotion of public awareness and active participation in a continuous campaign for waste management.