Investigating the Environmental Quality of Rural Areas with an Emphasis on Solid Waste Collection: A case study of Qarah Bagh Rural District (Shiraz County)

A B S T R A C T
Waste management in rural areas is of particular importance. This study investigates the environmental quality of Qarah Bagh Rural District, located in Shiraz County, focusing on solid waste collection. The main objective is to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the current waste management system and to provide solutions for improving the environmental quality in this region. This study adopts a quantitative research methodology. 10 villages Out of 25 in Qarah Bagh Rural District were selected as the sample. The required information was collected through a questionnaire. The data were statistically analyzed using SPSS software. The investigated indicators included environmental, economic-social, health, managerial, and technical-operational dimensions. The research findings exhibited that the largest volume of generated waste in the surveyed villages is related to food and household waste (especially plastic), and agricultural waste has a smaller share than expected. The unprincipled distribution and disposal of solid waste in the natural environment, in addition to reducing the beauty and attractiveness of the villages and harming tourism, has intensified environmental pollution. Furthermore, the results of statistical tests indicated that the actions of rural managers in waste management remain highly limited and inadequate. Consequently, the majority of respondents evaluated managerial performance negatively in the areas of waste collection, separation, and recycling. In conclusion, it can be stated that solid waste management in the studied villages lacks the necessary coherence and efficiency, and has adverse environmental, social, and economic consequences
Extended Abstract
Introduction
The environment serves as the intersection between human activities and the natural world. Its protection constitutes one of the most fundamental responsibilities of both current and future generations. Accordingly, environmental protection is now regarded as a key pillar of human rights — to be preserved not only for the present generation but also for the survival and continuity of future ones. The large-scale generation of solid waste and rural residue, driven by population growth and shifting consumption patterns in both urban and rural societies, has led to environmental pollution, thereby endangering public health and hygiene. This issue is particularly critical in rural communities, where the environment is naturally cleaner. Given this, the quality of rural environments must be considered a central concern in the design of national and regional development programs. The environmental quality of rural regions is a key issue in sustainable development, as these areas play an essential role in supplying natural resources, producing agricultural products, and supporting human communities. However, challenges related to environmental management — especially in the collection and disposal of solid waste — can pose serious threats to environmental sustainability and the well-being of local populations. Currently, population growth, changing consumption patterns, and insufficient waste management infrastructure have led to complex environmental problems in rural areas (Norouzi et al., 2020). Waste management in these regions is particularly important because they often contain sensitive ecosystems. Pollution resulting from improper waste disposal can have irreversible effects on soil, water resources, and resident health (Kordi & Salehi, 2021).
 
Methodology
A quantitative research approach was adopted for this study. Preliminary information was gathered through descriptive and library-based methods, while survey and field techniques were employed to complete the research. Thus, the present study is field-based, library-based, and statistical in nature.
Initially, questionnaires tailored to the research topic were developed and subsequently completed through in-person visits to each of the selected villages, with respondents drawn from the statistical population, which included both villagers and rural managers. The questionnaire was designed as a closed-ended type, utilizing a Likert scale to capture ordinal-level responses. The accumulated data were analyzed using SPSS software. In addition, during field visits to the villages, the physical characteristics of the rural environment and the distribution of solid waste were systematically examined within and around the villages. The statistical population of the study comprised villages located in Qarah Bagh Rural District, Shiraz County. In this district, 25 villages have more than 25 households. Based on local knowledge of the region, 10 villages were selected as the sample. The selection process took into account the spatial distribution of villages across the region to ensure that the sample villages were appropriately distributed throughout the rural district.
 
Results and Discussion
The results of descriptive and inferential analyses indicated that the pattern of waste generation and management in the villages of Qarah Bagh Rural District suffers from fundamental problems. The waste composition analysis revealed that the largest volume consisted of food and household waste, along with a portion containing hazardous materials. Thus, the waste in the region is predominantly organic and household in nature, which — in the absence of proper management — is likely to lead to severe environmental consequences.
In terms of outcomes, the lack of appropriate waste collection has resulted in several problems, including reduced visual quality of the rural environment, threats to ecological health, and a decline in tourism capacity. These findings suggest that inefficient waste management has affected not only the environmental dimension but also the social and economic aspects of rural life. Regarding the management dimension, the findings identified a lack of adequate infrastructure, the absence of regular waste collection planning, no waste separation system, and neglect of residents' opinions and participation. The majority of respondents rated the performance of rural managers as inadequate. Furthermore, no innovations or new initiatives were observed in this field.
 
Conclusion
The research findings revealed that solid waste management in the villages of Qarah Bagh Rural District faces serious challenges. Waste composition analysis indicated that the majority of generated waste consists of food, household, and plastic materials, while the share of agricultural waste is lower than expected and of little significance compared to other waste types. Furthermore, the unprincipled distribution and collection of waste has led to numerous environmental and social consequences. The reduction of natural beauty in the villages, the decline in tourism attractions, and environmental pollution are among the most significant negative effects of inefficient waste management in this region. This demonstrates that the lack of proper waste management directly threatens the quality of life of rural residents, as well as sustainable environmental and economic development.
The results also showed that the actions of rural managers are very limited and insufficient. More than 80% of respondents evaluated negatively managerial performance in the areas of waste collection, separation, and recycling. The lack of necessary infrastructure, a shortage of innovative plans, and neglect of public participation are among the serious obstacles to sustainable waste management in the surveyed villages.
In summary, this study indicated that waste management in the villages of the region lacks the necessary coherence, planning, and efficiency, and its negative consequences are clearly evident across environmental, social, and economic dimensions. Therefore, achieving sustainable waste management in this region requires a fundamental revision of policies, strengthening of infrastructure, education and public participation, and regular planning at the level of rural management.
 
Funding
There is no funding support.
 
Authors’ Contribution
Authors contributed equally to the conceptualization and writing of the article. All of the authors approved the content of the manuscript and agreed on all aspects of the work declaration of competing interest none.
 
Conflict of Interest
Authors declared no conflict of interest.
 
Acknowledgments
 We are grateful to all the scientific consultants of this paper.