Dimapur, Oct. 5 -- A Nagaland University study found that community expectations and social norms strongly influence how people handle plastic waste, highlighting the need for waste-management strategies that work through trusted local institutions and community networks rather than relying on awareness campaigns alone.

The study examined the factors influencing plastic-handling practices by 226 residents across Kohima, Dimapur and Chumoukedima districts, supplemented by open-ended responses from 131 respondents and in-depth interviews with 10 additional participants, a varsity release said on Monday.

Data were collected between June and December 2025.

The findings suggest that changing plastic-waste behaviour requires more than inform...