Behavioral Insights for Sustainable Living: Evaluating Household Waste Management Behavior for a Green Economy in Bali

Abstract

The rapid growth of tourism and urban activities has significantly increased household waste generation in Bali, while existing waste management systems face persistent capacity and behavioral challenges. Although socio-economic determinants of waste behavior have been widely examined, empirical studies that explicitly link household sustainability perceptions to community-based waste management mechanisms, including TPS3R, remain limited. This study aims to fill this gap by analyzing how environmental, health, and economic perceptions influence households’ assessment of the importance of TPS3R in supporting sustainable development. The study is based on a survey of 100 households located in close proximity to TPS3R facilities in Denpasar City and Badung Regency. Perception-based indicators were validated and aggregated into composite indices and subsequently analyzed using a logistic regression model. The results show that environmental (odds ratio = 5.85), health (odds ratio = 2.25), and economic perceptions (odds ratio = 1.85) have a positive and statistically significant effect on the perceived importance of TPS3R. Gender is also significant, while formal education is not, suggesting that participation in community-based waste systems and local social practices plays a more decisive role than educational attainment alone. The qualitative findings suggest that ongoing participation in the TPS3R program, together with locally rooted social norms, plays an important role in reinforcing pro-environmental practices within households. Taken together, these results highlight the value of incorporating behavioral perspectives into community-based waste management efforts, especially in regions whose economies rely heavily on tourism, in order to support long-term environmental sustainability.