Uncertainties About Waste Using an Online Survey and Review Approach: Environmentalist Perceptions, Waste Compositions and Views from Media and Science

Waste generation and subsequent plastic pollution pose a major threat to both human and environmental health. Furthering our understanding of waste at individual levels can inform future waste reduction strategies, education, and policies. This study explores components and perceptions among individuals using survey data combined with a mini-review. An online Qualtrics survey was distributed pre-COVID19 following a global social media challenge, Futuristic February, which directed participants to collect their non-perishable waste during February 2020. Participants were asked about their waste generation, perceptions toward waste and plastic pollution issues, and environmental worldview using the New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) scale (n=50). We also conducted a mini-review of 8 waste and plastic pollution statements from our survey in both popular media and scientific journal articles. Survey results indicated participants had an overall pro-ecological worldview (M=4.32, SD=0.88) and reported cardboard and paper (66%) as the most commonly occurring non-perishable waste category. Across categories, food packaging was the most common waste type. Participants were most uncertain about statements focusing on bioplastic or biodegradable plastic, respectively (44% and 30%), while the statement on microplastic toxicity obtained 100% mild or strong agreement among participants. Uncertainty for reviewed statements varied depending on topic and group. Popular media and scholarly articles did not always agree, possibly due to differences in communication of uncertainty or terminology definitions. These results can inform future policy and educational campaigns around topics of misinformation.