ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Orientations Towards Urban Domestic Waste: Messages for Urban Environmental Integrity
 
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1
Department of Environmental Science, International Islamic University, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
 
2
Department of Computer Sciences, Bahria University, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
 
3
Department of Geography, Government Graduate College, Asghar Mall, Rawalpindi 46000, Pakistan
 
 
Submission date: 2024-04-04
 
 
Final revision date: 2024-05-27
 
 
Acceptance date: 2024-06-20
 
 
Online publication date: 2024-10-28
 
 
Publication date: 2025-06-06
 
 
Corresponding author
Syed Atif Bokhari   

Department of Geography, Government Graduate College, Asghar Mall, Rawalpindi 46000, Pakistan
 
 
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2025;34(4):4699-4711
 
KEYWORDS
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ABSTRACT
Developing countries are struggling with urban waste management. Focusing on Islamabad, Pakistan, cross-sectional data determines how contextual variants impact domestic waste management. The study deployed a multifaceted approach to assessments. Hence, waste-bin density is a reliable proxy variable for situational analysis. It emerged that the waste-bin density in Islamabad is asymmetrical. It formulates that some localities in Islamabad receive preferential treatment, which contradicts the principles of “parity” and “environmental justice.” The analysis entails synchronizing efforts based on the principle “ Polluters pay the price”. Likewise, it emerged that solid waste management in Islamabad inherently relies on landfills. This “Low-hanging fruit” option is not sustainable. Hence, technologicalbased solutions through market-driven measures seem more dependable. Messages in monetary terms are persuasive and automatically prioritize waste disposal options. Therefore, the study analysis analyzed the feedback from 305 respondents. The female representation was 36.4%, much lower than their due. A greater focus on capacity-building and female empowerment is required to reverse this trend. (96.4%) demanded integrated waste management, (41%) remain dissatisfied with the current arrangements, and (88.5%) believe that bad waste management depreciates property value. The assessments based on (Age, Gender, Education, Nature of employment, and Duration of stay) render that the respondents’ views significantly modified (p≤0.05%) with Age and Duration of stay. Resilient domestic waste management requires resource recovery mechanisms such as a “circular economy framework”. It seems a plausible option in countries like Pakistan, as it generates revenue. Urban residents prefer whatever is productive and cost-effective. It demands a paradigm shift in strategies through public participation and contextbased assessments. The assessments affirm that GIS-based spatial analysis techniques are dependable for improvising measures to manage urban domestic waste.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
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ISSN:1230-1485
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