WASTE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND PUBLIC PERCEPTION: A CASE STUDY OF REVERSE VENDING MACHINE USABILITY IN THE PELAGONIA REGION.

In today's rapidly evolving world, environmental sustainability and waste management pose significant challenges. Consumer habits in many countries often lead individuals to behave irrationally, exploiting resources selfishly and egocentrically, disregarding the environmental damage caused by such actions. While many developed countries actively seek creative solutions to enhance public awareness of waste reduction, recycling, and reuse, numerous less developed countries, including the Republic of North Macedonia, are at the early stages of transitioning toward a green economy. Initial efforts are underway to shift awareness and foster sustainable waste behavior among both individuals and legal entities. This paper aims to explore the citizens' waste behavior and challenges in the Pelagonia Region in the Republic of North Macedonia, with the goal of promoting the adoption of eco-friendly solutions, such as Reverse Vending Machines (RVM). The study also seeks to enhance awareness and promote waste management behavior through the research process and communication with the citizens. A survey was conducted, collecting data from 842 citizens in the Pelagonia region to gain insights into their perspectives. Statistical analysis of the collected data in the SPSS software package indicates that citizens' waste sorting practices are influenced by their age and employment status. However, the citizens' information for reverse vending machines and their use does not depend on this cluster affiliation. The analyses confirm that in the Republic of North Macedonia as a developing country, efforts are still needed to raise awareness and enhance education regarding eco-sustainable practices and behaviors among the population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]