Importance of Segregating Plastic from Household Municipal Solid Waste: A Perception-Based Study.

Household plastic waste is a major component of household municipal solid waste (HMSW). One major cause of increasing accumulation of plastic waste is the lack of proper segregation of HMSW, particularly into five separate categories, namely, recyclable, toxic, compostable organic, soiled, and wet (semisolid) wastes. Such segregation will help in appropriate identification and separation of household plastic waste from other HMSW for their recycling and reuse. The present study examines peoples' perception regarding handling of plastic waste with respect to the segregation of HMSW. Relevant data was obtained from a sample of 2,563 respondents in Assam, India. The findings indicate that a majority of people dispose household plastic waste, instead of recycling and reusing them. Also, they never segregate HMSW into the abovementioned five categories, indicating the need for raising awareness about the importance of such segregation among people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]