Journal of Bioresources and Environmental Sciences,2023,2(2),67-77 Doi: 10.14710/0jbes.2023.19271 67 @The Author(s). 2023. Published by CBIORE Investigating environmental impacts of betel nut (Arecha chatechu) wastes disposal based on human behavior in Port Moresby PNG Pendis Ono 1* , M. Maryono 1,2 , Fuad Muhammad 1,3 1 Graduate Program of Environmental Science, School of Postgraduate Studies, Universitas Diponegoro, Semarang, Indonesia 2 City Planning Department, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Diponegoro, Semarang, Indonesia 3 Biology Department, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Diponegoro, Semarang, Indonesia *Correspondence: pendis.ono@gmail.com Abstract. The consumption of Areca catechu (betel nut) in combination with Piper betel and lime (calcium hydroxide) in Papua New Guinea has been a daily consumable commodity among the country’s population. Due to the increase usage of betel nut, more wastes tend to be deposited into the city’s environment making the city very filthy. The disposal of wastes along with its end by- products has become a major problem for the environment due to uncontrolled human behavior and ignorance. The city of Port Moresby has seen a lot of wastes from betel nut husks and salivary spittle being spewed all over public places. The uncontrolled wastes disposal and carelessness of the people has significantly affected the outlook of the surrounding environment. Even though, laws were put in place to manage wastes, people do not care of the impacts and continue to ignore the laws. The study was undertaken to understand human behavior and characteristics towards im- proper waste management and determine the level of wastes derived from the use of betel nut. The study was conducted using simple random sampling and stratified sampling methods through in- terviews for qualitative data collection. The results revealed that ignorance and carelessness exist within the population in managing betel nut wastes. The results also indicate that banning the sale and trading of betel nut may lead to social and economic problems for most of the unemployed population in Port Moresby. Therefore, it requires a better approach from the government and the city authorities to develop and implement workable win-win solution to the problems faced by the city residence as well as managing their wastes from the use of betel nut. Keywords: Areca catechu (betel nut), betel quid, Piper betel, Calcium hydroxide (lime) waste manage- ment, waste disposal, environmental degradation 1. Introduction Papua New Guinea (PNG) is among several countries in the Pacific region that consume betel nut. Betel nut or Areca nut is a fruit that grows on Areca palms mostly in lowland and coastal areas in almost all tropical regions of the world (Baker and Dransfield 2006:50; Ross et al. 2008:391). Mustard (Piper betel) and lime (Calcium hydroxide) obtained from burning sea shells are consumed with betel nut forming the combination called betel quid. The manner in which betel nuts are being consumed differs in many places and countries. In the Federated States of Micronesia, the betel quid is usually wrapped and placed in the mouth whilst in PNG and the Solomon Islands the betel nut and mustard are placed separately in the mouth (WHO, 2012). Mustard is a creeping wine that are used in combination with lime for chewing. The lime, which is made from burning sea shells into white dry powder is usually packed in air tight plastic bags ready for sale and used by betel nut consumers (WHO IARC, 2004). Mustard leaves, fruits and barks can be used together with betel nut and lime in chewing to give a red coloring in the mouth. Areca nut chewing is taught to have been the major cause of health and environ- mental problems in the country. It is in fact a major contributor towards spreading of tuberculosis in PNG. As well as a major contributor towards dephasing of public property as well as contributing to environmental degradation among other wastes in the main urban center (Yatmani et al. 2022). The adverse impacts from continuous chewing of betel nut is very devastating in terms of health, social, environmental and economic aspects (Arija et al. 2022). The consumption Received: 30 th June 2023 Accepted: 22 nd July 2023 Published: 25 th July 2023 . Copyright: © 2023 by the authors. This work is under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/li censes/by/4.0/). Research Article