Attitude and Knowledge toward Plastic Waste in Public Places of Aizawl City

Improper disposal of plastic waste can be harmful to our environment. It has a hazardous effect on wildlife and the human food chain. Even though Aizawl City is a public place with few rules and regulations regarding plastic waste disposal, a huge amount of littering of plastic waste has been observed. Therefore, this research aims to study the attitude and knowledge toward plastic waste among the people who attend the study area. This study was a mixed approach where field observation and qualitative and quantitative data are derived. Three public places -Aizawl Zoological Park, Millennium Centre, and Lalsavunga Park were chosen for the study area. Primary data from 60 samples were collected through questionnaires and interviews. It is observed that a single-use plastic water bottle was the most common plastic waste which was disposed of improperly. From the data, most respondents have a great attitude towards Plastic waste and our environment. However, they score less than average on our environmental awareness scale. One interesting finding is that respondents tended to dispose of their plastic waste in an already polluted area. From the findings, regular cleaning of the area is suggested to significantly decrease the amount of littering. In addition, spreading awareness of plastic waste and how it impacts our lives through social media and education is highly suggested.