From domestic roles to social change: housewives’ empowerment in circular economy-based waste management in Cibinong District

This study examines the determinants of housewives’ participation in household waste management through a community-based circular economy perspective in Cibinong District, Indonesia. Recognising women’s central role in domestic waste practices, the research aims to identify key psychological, economic, and institutional factors shaping participation intention and to develop an empirically grounded empowerment model supported by local governance. This study adopted a convergent mixed-methods design. Quantitative data were collected through a structured survey of 200 household members primarily responsible for household waste management (190 women and 10 men), while qualitative data were obtained through FGDs and analysed thematically. Survey respondents and FGD participants were selected purposively using component-specific inclusion criteria. The survey data were analysed using Structural Equation Modelling–Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS) to examine the relationships between environmental consciousness, attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, economic motivation, government support, and intention to engage in waste management. The results indicate that environmental consciousness is the most influential direct predictor of intention, whereas perceived behavioural control exerts a stronger effect than attitudes and subjective norms. This suggests that participation is primarily shaped by the perceived feasibility of waste-management practices within everyday household routines. Government support plays a critical enabling role by strengthening the translation of environmental consciousness into intention. Economic motivation contributes indirectly by reinforcing environmental awareness rather than operating as a purely transactional incentive. The qualitative themes corroborated these results by highlighting the importance of accessible facilities, practical guidance, economic opportunities, and sustained government support, while showing that awareness and social encouragement alone did not ensure regular participation. By integrating the Theory of Planned Behaviour with circular economy and institutional perspectives, this study offers a nuanced explanation of community-based waste management participation and provides practical insights for policies aimed at women-centred environmental empowerment.