Analysis of the Effect of Varying Trash Receptacle Distance to the Littering Behavior of Metro Manila Bus Commuters

Abstract

Seventy five percent of Filipino commuters use public transportation such as Public Utility Buses (PUBs). Trash receptacles are frequently placed in areas of transit facilities perceived to have the largest number of passersby. Thus, placement of receptacles does not consider convenient distances to its target users and may not elicit the optimal trash disposal behavior. This study aims to analyze the effect of varying trash receptacle distance to the littering behavior of Filipino bus commuters. Survey with 100 respondents determined three distances that commuters claim are inconvenient in properly disposing their trash. With this, observations were conducted in a bus terminal along Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue, the busiest highway in Metro Manila. The number of commuters who disposed trash properly and who littered were counted for three determined receptacle distance. Statistical analyses showed the dependence of littering behavior on trash receptacle distance and strong correlation between trash receptacle distance and littering behavior.