Abstract

Background and purpose: Human progress and increasing growth of population increase municipal waste production. According to this issue, for decreasing the destructive effects of municipal wastes, efficient management plan are need that it is first phase of wastes separation. Therefore, the main goal of this research is survey on the status separation of municipal waste source and introducing methods that increase public participation. Analysis method: The statistical society of this research is the citizens of triple areas of Zanjan city. For this purpose, 450 questionnaires were prepared based on random cluster sampling of distribution.  Mixing both interview and questionnaire method were used in this study. Data were summarized in frequency tables and relations and differences between variables were determined using descriptive and analytical statistical methods like Dunck and Mann Whitney, Chi square. SPSS 20 and Excel software’s have been used in data analysis. Results and Discussion: Data of this study show that approximately 70% of citizens in Zanjan city are volunteers for implementing of waste source separation plan. Now the municipal waste source separation is done only in 38% of statistical society in this case study. The most important reason of citizens for fulfill this plan was the increase of the cleanliness of the city and the environmental protection (66%). The most important reason for lack of waste source separation was the lack of necessary facilities in the city (50%). The level of received training of 90% of statistical society is poor or very poor, and 7% of societies are satisfied from instructions and notices of media about separation plan, that shows the poor performance of recycle management. Conclusion: The results of research indicate that there are factors that are effective in the level of awareness of society about waste source separation plan. Among the affecting factors, education level, family income and residential area were more evident. Also, it hasn't been seen any relationship between gender, marital status and age and environmental awareness.