This study examined the underlying factors that influence household recycling intensity when program conditions (curbside collection) are standardized. A mail-back survey was used to obtain information on public solid waste diversion behaviors, motivations, policy perceptions, and environmental attitudes of 673 households in four communities within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Analysis revealed several salient factors that distinguish active recyclers from those with lower levels of material recovery, including individual motivations for recycling, attitudes toward the solid waste problem and strategies to address it, the range of other waste diversion actions adopted, and certain environmental attitudes. The findings suggest potential social marketing and program changes to stimulate household recycling, improvement integral for progress toward promulgated provincial and state solid waste diversion goals.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Barker, K. , Fong, L., Grossman, S., Quin, C., & Reid, R. (1994). Comparison of self-reported recycling attitudes and behaviors with actual behavior. Psychological Reports, 75, 571-577.
2.
Bartkiw, D. (1991). Making decisions in the face of uncertainty. In M. Haight (Ed.), Municipal solid waste management: Making decisions in the face of uncertainty (pp. 9-12). Waterloo, Ontario: University of Waterloo Press.
3.
Blaikie, N. (1992). The nature and origins of ecological world views: An Australian study. Social Science Quarterly, 73, 144-165.
4.
Boldero, J. (1995). The prediction of household recycling of newspapers: The role of attitudes, intentions, and situational factors. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 25, 440-462.
5.
Cotgrove, S. (1982). Catastrophe or cornucopia: The environment, politics and the future. New York: John Wiley.
6.
Daly, H. (1991). Steady state economics. Washington, DC: Island Press.
7.
Daly, H. (1995). On Wilfred Beckerman’s critique of sustainable development. Environmental Values, 4, 49-55.
8.
Derksen, L. , & Gartrell, J. (1993). The social context of recycling. American Sociological Review, 58, 434-442.
9.
De Young, R. (1990). Recycling as appropriate behavior: A review of survey data from selected recycling education programs in Michigan. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 3, 253-266.
10.
Dillman. D. A. (1978). Mail and telephones surveys. Toronto: John Wiley.
11.
Dunlap, R. , & Van Liere, K. (1978). The “New Environmental Paradigm”: A proposed measuring instrument and preliminary results. Journal of Environmental Education, 9, 10-19.
12.
Dunlap, R. , & Van Liere, K. (1984). Commitment to the dominant social paradigm and concern for environmental quality. Social Science Quarterly, 65, 1013-1028.
13.
Environment Council of Alberta . (1994). Our forgotten resource—The common sense approach. Final Report. Edmonton, Alberta: Author.
14.
Gamba, R. , & Oskamp, S. (1994). Factors influencing community residents participation in commingled curbside recycling programs. Environment and Behavior, 26, 587-612.
15.
Geller, E. S. (1989) Applied behavior analysis and social marketing: An integration for environmental preservation. Journal of Social Issues, 45, 17-36.
16.
Gray, D. (1985). Ecological beliefs and behaviors: Assessment and change. Westport, CT: Greenwood.
17.
Guagnano, G. A. , Stern, P. C., & Dietz, T. (1995). Influences on attitude-behavior relationships: A natural experiment with curbside recycling. Environment and Behavior, 27, 699-718.
18.
Hershkowitz, A. (1987). Burning trash: How it could work. Technological Review, 90, 26-34.
19.
Hines, J. , Hungerford, H., & Tomera, A. (1986). Analysis and synthesis of research on responsible environmental behavior: A meta-analysis. Journal of Environmental Education, 18, 1-8.
20.
Hirschhorn, J. S. , & Oldenburg, K. U. (1991). Prosperity without pollution: The prevention strategy for industry and consumers. New York: Reinhold.
21.
Howenstine, E. (1993). Market segmentation for recycling. Environment and Behavior, 25, 86-102.
22.
Jacobs, M. (1995). Sustainable development, capital substitution and economic humility: A response to Beckerman. Environmental Values, 4, 57-68.
23.
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, 127-145.
24.
Keolian, G. , & Menery, D. (1992). Disposable vs. reusable systems: Two source reduction case studies. Journal of Environmental Systems, 20, 343-357.
25.
Lake, I. R. , Bateman, I. J., & Parfitt, J. P. (1996). Assessing a kerbside recycling scheme: A quantitative and willingness to pay case study. Journal of Environmental Management, 46, 239-254.
26.
Lansana, F. (1992). Distinguishing recyclers from nonrecyclers: A basis for developing recycling strategies. Journal of Environmental Education, 23, 16-23.
27.
Lansana, F. (1993). A comparative analysis of curbside recycling behavior in urban and suburban communities. Professional Geographer, 45, 169-179.
28.
Macdonald, D. , & Vopni, P. (1994). Policy barriers to 50% diversion of municipal solid waste. Waste Management and Research, 12, 257-270.
29.
McGuire, R. (1984). Recycling: Great expectations and garbage outcomes. American Behavioral Scientist, 28, 93-114.
30.
Milbrath, L. (1984). Environmentalists: Vanguard for a new society. Albany, NY: SUNY Press.
31.
Milbrath, L. (1989). Envisioning a sustainable society—learning our way out. Albany, NY: SUNY Press.
32.
Norusis, M. J. (1990). SPSS—Advanced statistical students guide. Chicago, IL: SPSS Inc.
33.
Ontario Ministry of Environment and Energy . (1991). The waste crisis in the Greater Toronto Area—A provincial strategy for action. Toronto: Author.
34.
Ontario Ministry of Environment and Energy . (1993). Greater Toronto Area 3 Rs analysis—Social environment technical appendix. Toronto: Author.
35.
Ontario Multi-Material Recycling Incorporated . (1995). Blue box evolution: Are we there yet?Toronto: Author.
36.
Oskamp, S. , Harrington, M., Edwards, T., Sherwood, D., Okuda, S., & Swanson, D. (1991). Factors influencing household recycling behavior. Environment and Behavior, 23, 494-519.
37.
Poole, T. (1992, October). Participation in residential curbside waste reduction programs. Resource Recycling, 46-51.
38.
Porter, B. , Leeming, F., & Dwyer, W. (1995). Solid waste recovery: A review of behavioral programs to increase recycling. Environment and Behavior, 27, 122-152.
39.
Recycling Council of Ontario . (1994, March). User fees—Workshop proceedings. Recycling Council of Ontario Conference, Toronto, Ontario.
40.
Simmons, D. , & Widmar, R. (1990). Participation in household solid waste reduction activities: the need for public education. Journal of Environmental Systems, 19, 323-330.
41.
Skolimowski, H. (1995). In defense of sustainable development. Environmental Values, 4, 69-70.
42.
Statistics Canada . (1993). Environmental perspectives—Local government waste management practices survey. Ottawa, Ontario: Minister of Supply and Services.
43.
Vining, J. , & Ebreo, A. (1990). What makes a recycler?Environment and Behavior, 22, 55-73.
44.
Vining, J. , Linn, N., & Burdge, R. J. (1992). A comparison of recycling motivation in four communities. Environmental Management, 16, 785-797.
