Intergenerational changes in perception and attitude toward waste as an undesirable consumption practice: A qualitative study

Since the Industrial Revolution, production has increased and costs have fallen. This situation has led to changes in the consumption habits of societies, and easily accessible products have lost their value, leading societies to develop consumption preferences that are not needs-oriented but desire-oriented. In this process, both elements of the system, the producer and the consumer, have been satisfied, but it has been seen that there is an important issue that has escaped attention in the process we have arrived at. Resources are limited, wants are unlimited, and unconscious production and consumption lead to a serious waste of resources. Failure to use resources effectively has led to a number of social and environmental problems. Solutions to the growing problems have been proposed within the framework of sustainability and many projects have been put forward in this context. In line with the motto that the more visible the problem, the more necessary the solution, these studies have been examined and, in this context, the perceptions of waste and consumption of parents and young people between the ages of 18 and 25 have been attempted to be uncovered through in-depth interviews using the phenomenological method. The role of young people and parents in shaping perceptions of waste is highlighted, and the social implications of these perceptions and possible solutions are discussed. This research was designed as a case study within the framework of qualitative research. The study group of the research consists of 14 people living in Ankara city centre. The research was conducted between 15 February 2024 and 15 April 2024. The participants of this research were determined according to the purposive sampling method as required by phenomenological research. Criterion sampling, which is one of the types of purposive sampling, was used in the research. In order to collect information within the framework of this general purpose of the research, a semi-structured interview form was used as a data collection tool. The data were completed with content analysis. Keywords: Production, Waste, Waste Perception, Consumption Understanding