A Cross-Sectional Study of Knowledge, Practice, and Management of Solid Waste Segregation in Higher Educational Institutes: A Case Study in KSA

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The presented work is important in terms of implementing the Circular Economy model on a global scale. The research proves that the basis for the modernization of any waste management system is public education. However, in my view, the results cited by the authors are too general.

The general complaint is basically the absence of any discussion. I believe that such general results can be discussed in many different ways - even assuming the environmental, economic, logistical or any different impact. I have yet to find a research paper that does not include a discussion of the results, and this paper should be no exception.

 

Minor comments.

If the authors use the designation K0X, i.e., K01, then the designation should be K10, not K010, since the survey did not contain 100 questions.

Decrease the paragraph indentation in line 96

Table format should be standardized - most tables use individual inner and outer margins, line width, font size, etc.

The paper uses different spacing between text and tables, e.g., lines 176-179, lines 199-200, lines 226-230, lines 251-257, 267-268, etc.

Authors must decide whether to center or right-justify the tables.

Table #8 and Table #10 are overlapped.

Figure 1 Legend description should be corrected (number of wastes that are in the...)

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

This manuscript includes the main objective to get the stakeholder involved in waste management and to evaluate the knowledge and the practice of solid waste in QU

 

The abstract need to be reshaped by reducing the general sentences in the first 5 lines. additionally, it didn't contain any information on the methodology or the data being collected.

 

The analysis of the disposed waste questionnaire revealed that it has 75% plastic and paper. The study must have waste characterization according to standard methods to come to this specific conclusion. Just relying on opinions of biased questions that ignore the organic waste may not be precise. I suggest removing any generalization about the total solid waste generated from QU.  

Does the University have a canteen or cafeteria? is there any organic waste being produced? If yes it must be included in the questionnaire and data needed to be made.

The study didn't include any information about the national center for waste management under the umbrella of the ministry of environment water and agriculture in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.  

The center regulates how and whom to collect transport, recycle, and dispose of municipal solid waste.  the questionnaires should include awareness about the existence of this new regulation about waste management in Saudi Arabia which has recently been approved

The innovatively of the study needs to be reevaluated.  There are some practices related to waste segregation in schools, shopping malls, etc.  however still in the kingdom there is no enforcement to apply segregation at the site. Additionally, all the waste generated are being collected in one bin and transported to the landfill in one truck.  The author needs to address and discuss how is the paper and packaging cardboard  being collected and recycled at their QU in collaboration with a specialized  company for example.  

 

The waste management regulation in management regulation includes all the needed frameworks and regulations about the collection of waste out the collection of waste transportation segregation storage treatment recycling disposal which is needed to be included in this study to satisfy the objective of the study about awareness on solid waste. 

Author Response

Please see the attachment. 

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

Dear auther

 thank you for your efforts in improving the manuscript.

yours