Waste management is essential for achieving a clean and healthy environment. However, improper waste management practices are still found in Kadipiro, Surakarta City. Waste management is regulated under Surakarta City Regional Regulation No. 4 of 2022, which establishes obligations and sanctions for violations. This study aims to analyze community waste management culture and the level of public understanding of the legal consequences of waste management violations. The study employs a mixed-method approach combining normative and empirical legal approaches. The activity was conducted on July 18, 2026, in Kadipiro Village, Banjarsari District, Surakarta City, involving 17 respondents. Data were collected through observation, structured questionnaires, and interviews with community members and parties involved in waste management at the village level, complemented by legal education activities. The data were analyzed qualitatively by comparing normative legal provisions with empirical findings. The results show that the community's waste management culture remains suboptimal. Although 82.4% of respondents stated that they consistently separated household waste, open burning and indiscriminate waste disposal were still found. Public understanding of the legal consequences of waste management violations also requires improvement. Therefore, continuous legal education, supervision, and community participation are needed to improve compliance and foster a responsible waste management culture. The findings indicate that strengthening waste management culture through increased understanding of regulations and their legal consequences is an important factor in achieving effective and sustainable waste management.