In this article the authors study existing waste-disposal intentions and behavior-influencing factors at the household level in Santiago de Cuba. The authors analyze the perceived reputation of the behavior, two different attitude components (sentiment and cost-value ratio), and perceived difficulties. Our focus is to compare three types of waste-disposal behaviors and derive specific interventions. The behaviors most suitable to Cuba are recycling, composting, and reuse. Analysis with structural equation modeling (SEM) reveals relevant differences in factor influence for attitude components and perceived reputation. Recycling and composting are most strongly influenced by affective aspects of attitude, whereas the general attitude toward reuse seems to have a more rational basis. The influence of perceived reputation on recycling is strong, that on composting is moderate, and no influence at all is found for reuse. The authors combine the SEM results with those of the qualitative data analysis of problems and incentives assessed from the participants and suggest behavior-specific interventions.
Ajzen, I. (1985). From intentions to actions: A theory of planned behavior. In J. Kuhl & B. J. (Eds.), Action control (pp. 11-39). Berlin : Springer.
2.
Ajzen, I. (1988). Attitude, personality, and behavior. Milton Keynes, UK: Open University Press.
3.
Ajzen, I. (1991). The theory of planned behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 50(2), 179-211.
4.
Ali, I., & Ali, M.S. (1993). Solid waste recycling through informal sector in developing countries. Journal of Resource Management and Technology, 21(2), 82-86.
5.
Arbuckle, J.L., & Wothke, W. (1999). AMOS 4.0 user's guide. Chicago : SmallWaters Corporation.
6.
Arbuthnot, J. (1974). Environmental knowledge and recycling behavior as a function of attitudes and personality characteristics. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 1, 119-121.
7.
Bandura, A. (1977). Social learning theory. New York: General Learning Press.
8.
Bentler, P.M. (1990). Comparative fit indexes in structural models. Psychological Bulletin, 107(2), 238-246.
9.
Binder, C., & Mosler, H.-J. (in press). Waste-resource flows of short-lived goods in Santiago de Cuba. Resources, Conservation and Recycling.
10.
Boldero, J. (1995). The prediction of household recycling of newspapers-The role of attitudes, intentions, and situational factors. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 25(5), 440-462.
11.
Breckler, S.J., & Wiggins, E.C. (1989). Affect versus evaluation in the structure of attitudes . Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 25(3), 253-271.
12.
Browne, M.W., & Cudeck, R. (1993). Alternative ways of assessing model fit. In K. A. Bollen & J. S. Long (Eds.), Testing structural equation models (pp. 136-162). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
13.
Burn, S.M. (1991). Social psychology and the stimulation of recycling behaviors: The block leader approach. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 21(8), 611-629.
14.
Burn, S.M., & Oskamp, S. (1986). Increasing community recycling with persuasive communication and public commitment. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 16(1), 29-41.
15.
Chu, P.-Y., & Chiu, J.-F. (2003). Factors influencing household waste recycling behavior: Test of an integrated model. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 33(3), 604-626.
16.
Cialdini, R.B., Reno, R.R., & Kallgren, C.A. (1990). A focus theory of normative conduct: Recycling the concept of norms to reduce littering in public places . Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 58(6), 1015-1026.
17.
Cointreau-Levine, S. (1994). Private sector participation in municipal solid waste services in developing countries. In Volume 1: The formal sector. (UMP Technical Paper, No. 13). Washington, DC: The World Bank.
18.
De Young, R., Duncan, A., Frank, J., Gill, N., Rothman, S., Shenot, J., et al. (1993). Promoting source reduction behavior: The role of motivational information. Environment and Behavior , 25, 70-85.
19.
Fishbein, M. (1993). Introduction. In D. J. Terry, C. Gallois, & M. McCamish (Eds.), The theory of reasoned action: Its application to AIDS-preventive behavior (pp. xv-xxv). Oxford , UK: Pergamon.
20.
Frey, D., Stahlberg, D., & Gollwitzer, P.M. (1993). Einstellung und verhalten: Die theorie des überlegten handelns und die theorie des geplanten handelns [Attitude and behavior: The theory of reasoned action and the theory of planned behavior]. In D. Frey & M. Irle (Eds.), Kognitive theorien der sozialpsychologie (2nd ed., pp. 361-398). Bern, Switzerland: Hans Huber.
21.
Gamba, R.J., & Oskamp, S. (1994). Factors influencing community residents' participation in commingled curbside recycling programs. Environment and Behavior, 26(5), 587-612.
22.
Hoffmeyer-Zlotnik, J.H.P. (1997). Random-route stichproben nach ADM [Random-route sampling according ADM]. In S. Gabler & J. H. P. Hoffmeyer-Zlotnik (Eds.), Stichproben in der umfragepraxis (pp. 33-42). Opladen, Germany: Westdeutscher Verlag.
23.
Homburg, A., & Matthies, E. (1998). Umweltpsychologie [Environmental psychology]. Weinheim und München, Germany: Juventa Verlag.
24.
Hopper, J.R., & Nielsen, J.M. (1991). Recycling as altruistic behavior: Normative and behavioral strategies to expand participation in a community recycling program . Environment and Behavior, 23(2), 195-220.
25.
Howenstine, E. (1993). Market-segmentation for recycling. Environment and Behavior, 25(1), 86-102.
26.
Humphrey, C.R., Bord, R.J., Hammond, M.M., & Mann, S.H. (1977). Attitudes and conditions for cooperation in a paper recycling program. Environment and Behavior, 9(1), 107-124.
27.
Jacobs, H.E., Bailey, J.S., & Crews, J.I. (1984). Development and analysis of a community-based resource recovery program. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis , 17(2), 127-145.
Kaseva, M., & Gupta, S.K. (1996). Recycling-An environmentally friendly and income-generating activity toward sustainable solid waste management. Case study: Dar es Salam City, Tanzania. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 17, 299-309.
30.
Porter, R.C. (2002). The economics of waste. Washington, DC: Resources for the Future.
31.
Rivera, L.A. (2001, January 29). Hace dos semanas que no se colecta la basura en Santiago de Cuba [For two weeks the garbage has not been collected in Santiago de Cuba]. Retrieved May 15, 2006, from the CubaNet News Web site: http://www.cubanet.org/CNews/y01/jan01/31a2.htm
32.
Rogers, E.M. (2003). Diffusion of innovations (5th ed.). New York: Free Press.
33.
Schertenleib, R., & Meyer, W. (1992). Municipal solid waste management in DCs: Problems and issues. Unpublished manuscript.
34.
Schultz, P.W., Oskamp, S., & Mainieri, T. (1995). Who recycles and when? A review of personal and situational factors. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 15(2), 105-121.
35.
Taylor, S.E., & Todd, P.A. (1995). An integrated model of waste management behavior: A test of household recycling and composting intentions. Environment and Behavior, 27, 536-558.
36.
Trafimow, D., & Sheeran, P. (1998). Some tests of the distinction between cognitive and affective beliefs. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology , 34(4), 378-397.
37.
Vukelic, R. (2004). Relevanz des informellen sektors in der abfallwirtschaft: Vorgehen zur erfassung [Relevance of the informal sector in the refuse economy: Proceed for collection]. Zürich: Institute for Human-Environment Systems, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology .
38.
Wang, T.H., & Katzev, R.D. (1990). Group commitment and resource conservation: Two field experiments on promoting recycling. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 20(4), 265-275.
39.
World Resources Institute. (1996). United Nations environment program, United Nations development program. The World Bank, world resources 1996-97: The urban environment. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.
