The Role of Place Attachment in Building Community-Based Solid Waste Management Practices in the Municipality of Calauan, Laguna

Place attachment has been studied over the past years in the realm of environmental psychology and social sciences. The study explores the place attachment of the residents of Calauan, Laguna, a second-class municipality in the Philippines which faces a very challenging waste problem. Further, the study aims to characterize the degree of place attachment of the residents, determine residents’ environmentally responsible behavior in accordance with their place attachment, and explain the role of place attachment in building community-based solid waste management (SWM) practices in the locality. The study used a 5-point Likert scale questionnaire incorporating socio-demographic characteristics, three (3) parameters of place attachment (place identity, nature bonding, and community ties), and concept of environmentally responsible behavior. Findings revealed that place attachment of the residents, as determined by the three parameters used, were at a high level — a means in having a positive role in building SWM practices. Consequently, decision-making influenced by active citizenry and participatory planning will eventually trigger a holistic and ecologically sound intervention towards the environment.

过往数年，场所依恋（Place Attachment）在环境心理学与社会科学领域已得到广泛研究。本研究以菲律宾拉古纳省卡洛安市（Calauan, Laguna）——一座面临严峻垃圾治理难题的二级直辖市——的居民为研究对象，探讨其场所依恋水平。进一步而言，本研究旨在刻画当地居民的场所依恋程度，结合居民的场所依恋状况分析其环境责任行为（Environmentally Responsible Behavior），并阐释场所依恋在构建本地社区型固体废物管理（Solid Waste Management, SWM）实践中的作用。本次研究采用李克特五点量表（5-point Likert Scale）问卷，问卷内容涵盖社会人口学特征、场所依恋的三项核心参数（场所认同Place Identity、自然联结Nature Bonding与社区纽带Community Ties），以及环境责任行为的相关概念。研究结果显示，基于上述三项参数评估的当地居民场所依恋整体处于较高水平，这对构建固体废物管理实践具有积极推动作用。由此可见，以公民积极参与和参与式规划为支撑的决策机制，最终将催生兼具整体性与生态友好性的环境干预方案。