Household Behavioral Compliance in Waste Management Using the Extended Theory of Planned Behavior

Despite the expansion of waste management infrastructure and regulations, behavioral compliance with proper waste management practices remains inconsistent, particularly in developing-country contexts. This study investigates the factors influencing household compliance with waste management practices by extending the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to incorporate motivational and deterrence-related mechanisms. A quantitative research design was employed using survey data collected from 106 household respondents and analyzed through Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) using SmartPLS 4. The measurement and structural models were evaluated to assess construct validity, reliability, and the significance of the hypothesized relationships. The PLS-SEM results revealed that motivation was the strongest predictor of behavioral compliance (β = 0.499, p < 0.001). These findings indicate that motivation is the strongest predictor of behavioral compliance, while perceptions of the waste management system also exert a significant positive influence. Penalty awareness does not directly affect compliance but significantly enhances motivation, suggesting an indirect deterrence mechanism. In contrast, attitudes toward waste management practices do not demonstrate a significant effect on compliance behavior. Furthermore, the study contributes to the literature by empirically validating an extended TPB framework in a developing-country setting such as the Philippines and demonstrating the importance of integrating penalty- and motivation-related constructs in explaining behavioral compliance. The policy implications of this study emphasize the need for behavior-centered governance strategies that complement infrastructure investments through visible enforcement, motivational interventions, and improved public perceptions of waste management systems.