Investigating factors affecting the intention to separate waste from the source using the theory of planned behavior, households in district 10 of Tehran

 Through the recycling of separated waste, energy and cost are saved and less pollution is introduced into the environment. Therefore, appropriate solutions should be provided and implemented regarding the separation of waste from the source. In this study, an attempt was made to identify the factors affecting people's intention in waste separation using the theory of planned behavior.

 This cross-sectional descriptive-analytical research was conducted on 458 households in District 10 of Tehran. Sampling was done with a two-stage cluster method. The data was collected using a questionnaire designed in this study, and its validity and reliability were assessed. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and analytical statistics with Pearson's correlation coefficient and multiple regression tests using SPSS (v. 16) software. Ethical considerations were considered throughout all stages of the study.

 Subjective norms, attitude and perceived behavioral control, respectively, showed the greatest effect on participants’ intention in such a way that, on average, for each unit increase of these variables, intention increased by 0.39, 0.31 and 0.14 respectively (R=0.678 and R2 =0.46).

 It is suggested to use the capacity of local trustees, schools and popular networks to improve the level of subjective norms. By providing waste separation facilities such as special bins and creating financial incentives, perceived behavioral control can also be increased.