The Influence of Public Perception and Social Acceptance of Plastic Bag Ban Policies on Their Management Practices in Rwanda: A Case Study of Musanze District

Vollständiger Abstract

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This study investigated the influence of public perception and social acceptance of Rwanda’s plastic bag ban on environmental management practices in Musanze District. Using a mixed-methods approach, data were collected from 379 survey respondents, key informant interviews, observations, and secondary sources. Key findings revealed high levels of awareness (M = C–4.41), positive attitudes (M = 4.36–4.46), and strong social acceptance (M = 4.28–4.36) of the ban. Environmental management practices were also strong, including high compliance with the ban, proper waste disposal, and active community participation. Statistical analysis showed strong positive correlations (r = 0.76–0.89) between perception variables and management practices. Regression models indicated that public perception strongly predicted compliance (R² = 0.91) and community participation (R² = 0.89). The study concludes that enhancing awareness, enforcement, and access to affordable alternatives is essential to strengthen the effectiveness of plastic bag ban policies in Rwanda