When Waste Accumulates: Exploring Community Environmental Awareness amid Limited Waste Disposal Facilities

Waste accumulation presents an environmental challenge that cannot be understood solely through individual disposal behavior, particularly where waste disposal facilities are limited. This study aims to explore community environmental awareness amid limited waste disposal facilities in Tangerang Regency, Indonesia, focusing on how residents understand waste accumulation, perceive environmental responsibility, and respond to infrastructural constraints in their everyday lives. A qualitative case study design was employed, following Yin’s case study approach. Data were collected from 20 informants, comprising 12 residents, three community leaders, three waste management actors, and two local government representatives, selected through purposive and snowball sampling. Data collection involved semi-structured in-depth interviews, direct observation, field notes, and documentation. The data were analyzed through thematic coding, pattern matching, and explanation building, supported by source and methodological triangulation and member checking. The findings reveal that uneven facility availability, limited disposal capacity, and delays in waste collection contribute to waste accumulation in residential areas and designated disposal points. Residents demonstrated environmental awareness through their recognition of the environmental consequences of accumulated waste, concern about cleanliness and health, and understanding of shared responsibility among households, communities, and local authorities. However, awareness did not consistently translate into responsible disposal practices because infrastructural constraints limited residents’ opportunities to act on their environmental concerns. This study contributes to a contextual understanding of community environmental awareness by demonstrating that waste accumulation does not necessarily indicate low environmental awareness but may reflect a mismatch between environmental responsibility and the structural conditions required to practice it.