Abstract
Technology-Enabled Management Practices (TEMPs) refer to the integration of digital tools—such as mobile applications, online platforms, and data-tracking software—designed to streamline, incentivize, and monitor solid waste segregation and recycling processes. This study investigates the readiness, awareness, performance, and challenges related to adopting TEMPs within an economically vulnerable, predominantly rural community. Findings reveal a paradoxical profile: while the community exhibits high foundational digital access (87.19% smartphone and 85.56% internet use), over three-quarters of households (76.80%) earn below PhP 10,000 monthly, and awareness of practical TEMPs is critically low (Overall WM: 2.55, "Disagree"). Statistical analysis confirms that Educational Attainment and Access to Technology are significant determinants of waste management performance. A one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) indicates that the impact of these factors is statistically significant, yielding an F-value of 14.24 (p=0.000) for Educational Attainment and an Independent Samples t-value of 4.394 (p=0.000) for Access to Technology, confirming that higher education and digital access directly correlate with superior waste management participation. The primary barriers to adoption are multifaceted, including technical issues (poor connectivity, low digital literacy), behavioral inertia, and severe infrastructural shortfalls. Critically, adoption is not hindered by technology availability but by socio-economic deficits and a lack of targeted education. The study concludes that effective waste management requires a holistic strategy integrating digital capacity-building with infrastructural support. Based on these findings, a Digital Waste Management Program (DWMP) is proposed, prioritizing low-barrier training, low-bandwidth infrastructure, and a community-based digital incentive system to drive improvements in segregation and recycling rates.
