A qualitative study on the perceptions of high-rise littering among Singaporeans

Abstract

Background: There is a lack of research on high-rise littering in Singapore and around the globe. Most littering studies focus on littering in general public spaces. This study aims to understand the perceptions of high-rise littering among Singaporeans to add to the existing body of knowledge regarding high-rise littering. Method: Four focus groups were conducted to explore perceptions of high-rise littering. Thematic analysis was utilized with an inductive approach. Results and Discussion: Findings were categorized into 15 main themes, subsequently clustered into four carefully-ordered categories, namely: Issues of High-Rise Littering, Factors that Facilitate High-Rise Littering, Perceived Effectiveness of Existing Interventions, and Potential solutions. The current study found that the perceptions of the issues of high-rise littering, factors that facilitate high-rise littering, and perceived effectiveness of existing interventions are largely in line with existing literature on littering. Practical recommendations were provided to specifically improve anti-littering initiatives and create a tailored and targeted approach towards addressing the issue of high-rise littering in Singapore.