Abstract:

A key issue in waste management is the determination of an appropriate waste treatment hierarchy. Its observance makes it possible to limit the negative impact of waste on the environment and human health, as well as to optimally utilize materials contained in waste (saving valuable raw materials). The legislator assumes the introduction of a circular waste management system, making it possible to recover the largest possible quantities of products and raw materials from the waste stream, which may be subsequently reused. At the same time, the role of consumers, i.e. persons who are responsible for generating a large part of this waste, should be noted. Consumers are the suppliers of municipal waste and are responsible for its proper selection. It can be observed that the amount of municipal waste in Poland is systematically increasing, and this growing stream of waste contains many functional products that have been thrown away because they have been replaced by new, better products. The aim of this paper is to identify significant gender-dependent differences in consumer's disposal of unnecessary items. The article has an exploratory character. In most of the examined product categories, men were much more likely to declare throwing away useable products. Undoubtedly, such behavior increases the amount of municipal waste, but also wastes valuable resources. Thanks to the knowledge that men behave less responsibly with unnecessary objects, it is possible to adjust the media, the way of argumentation or the form of communication in order to change their behavior.