From waste to awareness: Does environmental degradation shape farmers’ sustainable behavior?

Syauqi Agung Firmanda; Fatahullah Fatahullah; Dwi Nur Laili Paramita

doi:10.35208/ert.1745360

Authors

Syauqi Agung Firmanda University of Brawijaya, Postgraduate of Agricultural Economics https://orcid.org/0009-0005-7848-8194
Fatahullah Fatahullah University of Cordova, Department of Agribusiness https://orcid.org/0009-0005-8845-9514
Dwi Nur Laili Paramita University of Brawijaya, Postgraduate of Agricultural Economics https://orcid.org/0009-0009-6281-4484

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.35208/ert.1745360

Keywords:

Household waste management, Indonesian family life survey, pro-environmental behavior, waste presence, waste disposal behavior

Abstract

This study examines the extent to which environmental degradation, proxied by the presence of household waste, influences sustainable waste management behavior among farming households in Indonesia. Utilizing nationally representative data from the fifth wave of the Indonesian Family Life Survey (IFLS-5), the analysis focuses on a subsample of 4,748 farming households. The empirical approach integrates mean difference analysis, probit and ordered probit models, and causal inference using Propensity Score Matching (PSM) and Inverse Probability Weighted Regression Adjustment (IPWRA). Probit estimates reveal that marital status and non-agricultural employment are positively associated with waste accumulation, while urban residence, livestock ownership, and crop failure risk are negatively associated. Ordered probit results show that sustainable disposal practices are more likely among households with digital access (mobile phones and internet), urban residence, and non-farm occupations. In contrast, married status, livestock ownership, and higher happiness levels are associated with unsustainable practices. Causal estimates confirm that the presence of household waste significantly reduces the likelihood of sustainable behavior by 16-19%, with an average treatment effect (ATE) of -0.198. These findings suggest that unmanaged waste not only reflects ecological deterioration but also signifies the erosion of collective norms that support pro-environmental responsibility.

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