Participation and Policy Support for a Campus-Based Community Recycling Initiative in Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Abstract

A campus-based community recycling initiative was implemented in a higher health vocational education in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, through a mandatory institutional policy to promote sustainable monthly campus waste management. This study aimed to assess participation, routine waste management behavior, and support for the continuation of the policy. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among campus community members, including students, lecturers, and administrative staff. A total of 607 respondents completed the questionnaire and were included in the analysis. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to identify factors associated with routine monthly waste management and support for policy continuation. Overall, 91.4% of respondents were registered as member of this initiative, 88.5% were aware of the mandatory policy, and 96.5% reported sorting waste before disposal. However, only 46.1% reported routine monthly waste management. In the adjusted model, routine monthly waste management was associated with perceived availability of digital services (AOR 3.20; 95% CI 2.15–4.77) and waste reduction with family or close friends (AOR 1.99; 95% CI 1.28–3.08). Respondents with compliance-only motivation had lower odds of routine participation than those with a compliant-internalized profile (AOR 0.40; 95% CI 0.21–0.76). Support for policy continuation was associated with routine monthly waste management (AOR 3.09), perceived availability of digital services (AOR 2.57), perceived environmental cleanliness (AOR 3.90), perceived program effectiveness (AOR 4.47), and higher overall perception scores (AOR 2.92). The mandatory campus-based recycling policy achieved high formal participation, but routine monthly participation remained limited. Sustained participation depends not only on institutional enforcement but also on internalized motivation, access to digital services, social support, and perceived program benefits.