data analysis of recycling habits

7/27/2019 Data Analysis of Recycling Habits

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DataAnalysisofRecyclingHabits:HowtoHelpPeopleRecycleMore

ThingsMoreOften

MolleneK.Denton

SCARCEIntern

15December2012


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TABLEOFCONTENTS

Abstract.................................................................................................................................................. 3

Introduction......................................................................................................................................... 3

SurveyResults

WhatisRecycled?

CommonRecyclables......................................................................................................................4

PlasticBags..........................................................................................................................................6

Electronics...........................................................................................................................................6

HouseholdHazardousWaste......................................................................................................7

BarrierstoRecycling

NotHavingaCurbsideRecyclableServiceAvailable..........................................................8

RecyclingBinsNotBeingEasilyAccessible............................................................................10

RecyclingBinsNotBeingClearlyLabeled...............................................................................10

RecyclingPerceivedasTakingTooMuchTime..11

UnderstandingandKnowledgeaboutRecyclables

UnderstandingthatRecyclingisImportantinPreservingtheEnvironment..........12

KnowledgeaboutWhatCan/CannotbeRecycled...............................................................14

KnowledgeaboutHow,When,andWheretoRecycle.......................................................14

AttitudesandMotivations

HavinganEstablishedRecyclingRoutine...............................................................................15

ReminderstoRecycle.......................................................................................................................17

SocialPressuretoRecycle.............................................................................................................17

FeedbackonJobsCreated...............................................................................................................18

FeedbackonEnvironmentalBenefits........................................................................................19

ContainerDepositRefunds.............................................................................................................20

Conclusion............................................................................................................................................. 21

References............................................................................................................................................. 22


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Abstract

Thepurposeofthisstudywastoidentifywaystohelppeopletorecyclemorethingsmoreoften,

consideringtheircurrentcommitmenttorecycling.Apopulationof214adultswassurveyedtolookat

whatgetsrecycledandwhichaspectsoftherecyclingprocessmostimpactapersonsbehavior.Itturns

outthatsimplyknowingthatrecyclingisbeneficialtotheenvironmentcontributeslittletoonesrecyclingactions.Oneofthebiggestbarrierstorecyclingisnothavingacurbsiderecyclingservice

available.Butmanypeoplewhoparticipateincurbsiderecyclingdonttaketheefforttobringnon-

curbsiderecyclableitems,suchaselectronicsandhazardouswaste,toadrop-offcenter.Mostpeople,

evencommittedrecyclers,dontalwaysknowwhatcan/cannotberecycled.Whenrecyclingoutsideof

thehome,bothcommittedandnon-committedrecyclersfindbarriersinthatrecyclingbinsarenot

easilyaccessibleorclearlymarked.Interestingly,thetimeittakestoprepareitemstoberecycledisnot

abigbarriertorecycling;evenformostnon-committedrecyclers.Butnothavinganestablished

recyclingroutineisassociatedwithdecreasedrecycling.Thegreatestfactorsthatimpactrecycling

motivationforbothcommittedandnon-committedrecyclersarepropereducation,feedbackonjobs

createdbyrecycling,andfeedbackontheenvironmentalbenefitsofrecyclingefforts.Also,non-

committedrecyclersarehighlymotivatedbyreminderstorecycle.Bothcommittedandnon-committed

recyclershadmixedopinionsaboutwhetherornotsocialpressureandcontainerdepositrefundswould

motivatethemtorecyclemore.Basedonthesefindings,recommendationsaregivenforwaysto

increaserecyclingparticipationthatreducesthebarriers,improvesknowledge,andstrengthens

motivations.

1. IntroductionDuringthesummerof2012,asaninternatSchoolandCommunityAssistanceforRecyclingand

CompostingEducation(SCARCE),Ibeganresearchtolookforwaystohelppeople(livinginDuPageCounty,Illinois)recyclemorethingsmoreoften.Theobjectiveofthisresearchwastocompare

committedrecyclerstonon-committedrecyclerstogainanindepthunderstandingonhowtoovercome

barriers,increaseknowledge,andstrengthenmotivationsforrecycling.Thispaperpresentsthefindings

fromthisresearch.

Theresearchinvolvedthreestages:

1) Developaframeworkforresearchbystudyingrecentliterature.2) Develop,review,andmodify,asrequired,aself-reportingsurvey.Givethefinalsurveyto

peopleattheCantignyParkGreenFaironSeptember22,2012.

3) AnalyzethesurveyresultsandsuggeststrategiesthatSCARCEcanusetoincreaserecyclingparticipation

2. SurveyResults2.1WhatIsRecycled?


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Thesurveyaskedhowfrequentlythefollowingitemsarerecycled(always,often,sometimes,rarely,

never):

1. CommonRecyclablesIncludesitemsthatarecommonlypickedupthroughacurbsiderecyclingprogramorinpublicrecyclingbins:aluminum,glass,paper,plastic,steel.

2. PlasticBagsIncludesanykindofplasticbag,suchasshoppingbags.3. Electronics:Includescellphones,computers,gameconsoles,stereoequipment,andtelevisions.4. HazardousHouseholdWaste:Includespaints,cleaners,oils,batteries,andpesticides .

2.1.1CommonRecyclables(UsedtoDefineRecyclerType)

Sincethesurveywasgivenatagreenfair,itisnotsurprisingthatmostoftherespondentsalways

recycleCommonRecyclables(57%).NearlyathirdoftenrecycleCommonRecyclables(28%).Anda

lesseramounteithersometimes(8%)orrarely(7%)recyclesCommonRecyclables.Noonenever

recyclesCommonRecyclables.

IncomparisontotheoverallU.S.population,accordingtoa2010HarrisInteractivepoll,U.S.adultsaged

18andoverrecycle:always43%,often25%,sometimes19%,rarely7%,never6%(1).

ThesurveydatawillbecategorizedandcomparedbydifferentRecyclerType,thereforethedistribution

differencesbetweentheCantignyParkGreenFairsurveydataandtheHarrisInteractivepollsurveydata

areinsignificant.

RecyclerTypesarecategorizedasfollows:

Super-CommittedRecyclers-alwaysrecycleCommonRecyclables(count=122,57%).

CommittedRecyclers-oftenrecycleCommonRecyclables(count=59,28%).

Not-CommittedRecyclers-eithersometimesorrarelyrecycleCommonRecyclables(count=33,

15%).

SinceeachofthethreeRecyclerTypeshas>=30respondents,statisticalanalysiscanbedoneusingthese

categories.


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Figure1:MappingofRecyclerstoRecyclerType

Onemaythinkthatyoungerpeoplerecyclemorethanolderpeople,butthisisnotthecase.Theage

groupwiththehighestpercentageofSuper-CommittedRecyclersisadultsaged55andolder(69%),

followedbyadultsaged35-54(58%),andadultsaged34andyounger(48%)havingtheleastamountof

Super-CommittedRecyclers.

Figure2:CommonRecyclablesarerecycledmostbyadults55andolder

Number/PercentageofrespondentsineachcategoryistabulatedinTable1.

57%28%

8%7%0%

%RespondentsWhoRecycle

CommonRecyclables(i.e.

aluminum,glass,paper,plasc,

steel)

Always

Usually

Somemes

Rarely

57%28%

15%

%RespoindentsbyRecyclerType

SuperCommiedRecycler(Alwaysrecycles

CommonRecyclables)

CommiedRecycler(Usuallyrecycles

CommonRecyclables)

NotCommiedRecycler(SomemesorRarely

recyclesCommonRecyclables)

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Age=55

RecyclerTypebyAgeGroup

Not-CommiedRecycler

CommiedRecycler

Super-CommiedRecycler

RecyclerTypebyAgeGroup

Age=65 TotalAllAges

Recycler

Type

Count % Count % Count % Count % Count % Count % Total

Count

Total

%

Super-

Committed

Recycler

18 53% 20 44% 20 54% 28 61% 24 65% 12 80% 122 57%

Committed

Recycler

10 29% 17 38% 13 35% 8 17% 9 24% 2 13% 59 28%

Not-

Committed

Recycler

6 18% 8 18% 4 11% 10 22% 4 11% 1 7% 33 15%

Total 34 100% 45 100% 37 100% 46 100% 37 100% 15 100% 214 100%

Table1RecyclerTypebyAgeGroup


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2.1.2PlasticBags

Plasticbagsrank4thamongthetypesofdebrisfoundina2011studytoanalyzeoceanlitterbythe

OceanConservancy2011InternationalCoastalCleanup(otherrankings:1st

-cigarettefilters,2nd

caps/lids,and3rdplasticbeveragebottles)(2).

Super-CommittedRecyclers,whoalwaysrecycleplasticbags,dosotwiceasmuchasCommitted

Recyclers(67%to34%).Only3%ofNot-CommittedRecyclersalwaysrecycleplasticbags.

Figure3:48%ofallrespondentsalwaysrecycleplasticbags

Number/PercentofrespondentsineachcategoryaretabulatedinTable2.

Surveyquestion-Irecycleplasticbags(i.e.anykindofplasticbag): Super-Committed Committed Not-Committed Total

Count % Count % Count % Count %

Always 82 67% 20 34% 1 3% 103 48%

Often 18 15% 16 27% 8 24% 42 20%

Sometimes 13 11% 12 20% 17 52% 42 20%

Rarely 3 2% 10 17% 6 18% 19 9%

Never 6 5% 1 2% 1 3% 8 3%

Total 122 100% 59 100% 33 100% 214 100%Table2Number/Percentofrespondentswhorecycleplasticbags

2.1.3Electronics

AccordingtoGlobalFuturesFoundation,electronicwasteaccountsfor70percentoftheoveralltoxic

wastecurrentlyfoundinlandfills(3).TheStateofIllinoisistryingtoreducethis;asofJanuary1,2012,

electronicsarenolongerallowedinlandfillandmustberecycled(4).But,only43%ofallrespondents

alwaysrecycleelectronics.

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Recyclesp

lasc

bags

PlascBagsRecycledbyRecyclerType

Never

Rarely

Somemes

Oen

Always


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61%ofSuper-CommittedRecyclersalwaysrecycleelectronics,whichistwiceasmuchasCommitted

Recyclers(29%).Not-CommittedRecyclersonlyrecycleelectronicssometimes(42%),rarely(36%),or

never(21%).

Figure4:Electronicproductsshouldnotbegoingintothelandfill,buttheyare.


SurveyquestionIrecycleelectronics(i.e.cellphones,computers,gameconsoles,stereoequipment,

andtelevisions):

Super-Committed Committed Not-Committed Total


Always 74 61% 17 29% 0 0% 91 43%

Often 19 16% 8 14% 0 0% 27 13%

Sometimes 13 11% 16 27% 14 42% 43 20%

Rarely 8 7% 13 22% 12 36% 33 15%Never 8 7% 5 8% 7 21% 20 9%

Total 122 100% 59 100% 33 100% 214 100%Table3-Number/Percentofrespondentswhorecycleelectronics

2.1.4HouseholdHazardousWaste

Onaverage,asmuchas100poundsofhouseholdhazardouswasteisstoredinpeopleshomes(5).

Whenimproperlydisposedof,householdhazardouswastecanpollutetheenvironmentandcreatea

risktohumanhealth.Relativelysmallquantitiescancontaminatesoilandwaterwhenpoureddownthe

drain,intheground,orputintolandfills.Unfortunately,thedisposalofhouseholdhazardouswastesis

exemptfromfederalhazardouswasteregulations(6).

52%ofSuper-CommittedRecyclersalwaysrecyclehouseholdhazardouswaste,whichistwiceasmuch

asCommittedRecyclers(22%).Not-CommittedRecyclersonlyrecyclehouseholdhazardouswaste

sometimes(48%),rarely(21%),ornever(30%).

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Recyc

lese

lectron

ics

ElectronicsRecycledbyRecyclerType

Never

Rarely

Somemes

Oen

Always


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Figure5:HouseholdHazardousWasteisrecycledtheleast


Surveyquestion:Irecyclehouseholdhazardouswaste:(i.e.rechargeableandone-time-usebatteries) Super-Committed Committed Not-Committed Total


Always 63 52% 13 22% 0 0% 76 35%

Often 30 25% 14 24% 0 0% 44 21%

Sometimes 17 14% 8 14% 16 48% 41 19%

Rarely 7 6% 13 22% 7 21% 27 13%

Never 4 3% 11 19% 10 30% 25 12%

Total 121 100% 59 100% 33 100% 213 100%Table4Number/Percentofrespondentswhorecyclehazardouswaste

2.2BarrierstoRecycling

2.2.1NotHavingaCurbsideRecyclableServiceAvailable

AllSuper-CommittedRecyclersandCommittedRecyclershavearecyclingserviceavailabletothem.For

Not-CommittedRecyclers,27%donthavearecyclingserviceavailable;while15%dontknowifthey

havearecyclingserviceornot.

0%

20%40%

60%

80%

100%

Recyc

lesbaTeries

HouseholdHazardousWasteRecycledby

RecyclerType

Never

Rarely

Somemes

Oen

Always


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Figure6:Nothavingarecyclingserviceavailableisabarriertorecyclingmore

BecausethecalculatedR-valueis.63,thereisamoderatelystrongcorrelationbetweendecreased

availabilityofcurbsiderecyclingservicesanddecreasedrecyclingofcommonrecyclables.

Figure7:Decreasedavailabilityofrecyclingservicesisassociatedwithdecreasedrecycling


SurveyQuestion-Acurbsiderecyclingserviceisavailabletome:



Yes 115 100% 59 100% 19 58% 193 93%

DontKnow 0 0% 0 0% 5 15% 5 2%No 0 0% 0 0% 9 27% 9 5%

Total 115 100% 59 100% 33 100% 207 100%Table5Number/Percentofrespondentswhohaveacurbsiderecyclingservice

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

SuperCommied

Recycler

CommiedRecycler

NotCommied

Recycler

Curbsi

derecyc

lingserv

iceava

ila

ble

CurbsideRecyclingServiceAvailabilityby

RecyclerType

No

Don'tKnow

Yes

y=1.3382x+0.4579

R=0.40184

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5

Recyles

Common

Recyclables?

5=Always

4=Usually

3=Somemes

2=Rarely

1=Never

CurbsiedeRecyclingService?1=No,2=NotSure,3=Y

Availablityofrecyclingservicesisassociatedwithrecyclingof

CommonRecyclables(correlaon=0.63)


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2.2.2RecyclingBinsNotBeingEasilyAccessible

Recyclingbinsarenotalwaysaccessibleinplacesoutsidethehome.Forinstance,accordingtoasurvey

thatwasconductedbytheNationalRestaurantAssociationduringMarch-April2011,only43%of

restaurantoperatorssaidtheyhavearecyclingprogramforcustomers(7).

Only22%ofallrespondentssaythatrecyclingbinsarealwayseasilyaccessible(athomeorawayfrom

home).TheresponseacrossthedifferentRecyclingTypesissimilar:24%ofSuper-CommittedRecyclers,

19%ofCommittedRecyclers,and21%ofNot-CommittedRecyclers.But39%ofNot-Committed

recyclerssaythatrecyclingbinsareeithersometimes,rarely,orneveravailable.

Figure8:78%ofallrespondentssayrecyclingbinsarenotalwayseasilyaccessible(athomeorawayfromhome)


SurveyquestionRecyclingbinsareeasilyaccessible(athomeorawayfromhome):



Always 29 24% 11 19% 7 21% 47 22%

Often 77 64% 35 59% 13 39% 125 59%

Sometimes 8 7% 9 15% 6 18% 23 11%

Rarely 6 5% 4 7% 5 15% 15 7%

Never 0 0% 0 0% 2 6% 2 1%

Total 120 100% 59 100% 33 100% 212 100%Table6Number/Percentofrespondentswhothinkrecyclingbinsareeasilyaccessible

2.2.3RecyclingBinsNotBeingClearlyLabeled

Inconsistentrecyclingbinlabelscauseconfusion,lowcapturerates,contamination,andunnecessary

timeiswastedtryingtofigureoutrecycling(8).OnestudyconductedinfourschooldistrictsinDakota

County,Minnesota,foundthatconsistentrecyclingbinlabelsincreasedrecyclingratesby47%(9).

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Recycl

ing

binsareea

silyaccessa

ble

Recyclingbinsareeasilyaccessible(athome

orawayfromhome)byRecyclerType

Never

Rarely

Somemes

Oen

Always


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Onlyaboutathird(30%)ofallrespondentssaythatrecyclingbinsarealwaysclearlylabeled(athomeor

awayfromhome).TheresponseacrossthedifferentRecyclingTypesissimilar:31%ofSuperCommitted

recyclers,29%ofCommittedRecyclers,and27%ofNot-CommittedRecyclers.

Figure9:70%ofallrespondentssayrecyclingbinsarenotalwaysclearlylabeled(athomeorawayfromhome)


SurveyquestionRecyclingbinsareclearlylabeled(athomeorawayfromhome):



Always 38 31% 17 29% 9 27% 64 30%

Often 71 59% 34 58% 11 33% 116 54%

Sometimes 5 4% 3 5% 6 18% 14 7%

Rarely 7 6% 5 8% 4 12% 16 8%

Never 0 0% 0 0% 3 9% 3 1%

Total 121 100% 59 100% 33 100% 213 100%Table7-Number/Percentofrespondentswhothinkrecyclingbinsareclearlymarked(athomeorawayfromhome)

2.2.4RecyclingPerceivedasTakingTooMuchTime

Interestingly,mostrespondentsthinkrecyclingalwaysoroftentakeslittletime.But,theresponseacross

thedifferentRecycleTypesdecreasesascommitmentlevelsdecrease:93%ofSuper-Committed

Recyclers,81%ofCommittedRecyclers,and63%ofNot-CommittedRecyclers.Andmorethanathird

(36%)ofNot-CommittedRecyclerssometimesorrarelythinkrecyclingtakeslittletime.

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Recyc

ling

binsarec

learlymarke

d

Recyclingbinsareclearlylabeled(athomeor

awayfromhome)byRecyclerType

Never

Rarely

Somemes

Oen

Always


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Figure10:36%ofNot-CommittedRecyclerssometimesorrarelythinkrecyclingtakeslittletime


SurveyquestionRecyclingtakeslittletime:



Always 81 66% 22 37% 12 36% 115 54%

Often 33 27% 26 44% 9 27% 68 32%

Sometimes 3 2% 6 10% 4 12% 13 6%

Rarely 5 4% 5 8% 8 24% 18 8%

Never 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%

Total 122 100% 59 100% 33 100% 214 100%Table8-number/Percentofrespondentswhothinkrecyclingtakeslittletime

2.3UnderstandingandKnowledgeaboutRecyclables

2.3.1UnderstandingthatRecyclingisImportantinPreservingthe

Environment

Nearlyallrespondentseitherstronglyagreeoragreethatrecyclingisimportantinpreservingthe

environment-99%ofSuper-CommittedRecyclers,100%ofCommitted-Recyclers,and100%ofNot-

CommittedRecyclers.

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

SuperCommied

Recycler

CommiedRecycler

NotCommied

Recycler

Recycl

ingtake

sliTleme

RecyclingtakeslilemebyRecyclerType

Never

Rarely

Somemes

Oen

Always


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Figure11:EvenNot-CommittedRecyclersunderstandthatrecyclingisimportantinpreservingtheenvironment

BecausethecalculatedR-valueis.27,thereisnocorrelationbetweenunderstandingthatrecyclingis

importantinpreservingtheenvironmentandincreasedrecyclingofCommonRecyclables.

Figure12:Understandingthebenefitsofrecyclingisnotassociatedwithincreasedrecycling


SurveyquestionRecyclingisimportantinpreservingtheenvironment:



StronglyAgree 118 97% 45 76% 26 79% 189 88%

Agree 3 2% 14 24% 7 21% 24 11%

NotSure 1 1% 0 0% 0 0% 1 0%

Disagree 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%

StronglyDisagree 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%

Total 122 100% 59 100% 33 100% 214 100%Table9-Number/Percentofrespondentswhothinkrecyclingisimportantinpreservingtheenvironment

0%10%20%30%40%50%

60%70%80%90%100%

Recycl

ing

isimportantinp

reserv

ingthe

env

ironment

Understandingthatrecyclingisimportantin

preservingtheenvironmentbyRecyclerType

StronglyDisagree

Disagree

NotSure

Agree

StronglyAgree

y=0.6246x+1.4095R=0.06191

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Recyclescommonrecyclables?

5=Always,4=Oen,

3=Somemes,

2=Rarely,1=Never

Recyclingisimportantinpreservingtheenvironment:1=StronglyDisagree,2=Disagree,3=NotSure,4=Agree,5=StronglyAgree

Understandingthatrecyclingisimportantinpreservingthe

environmentisnotassociatedrecyclingofCommonRecyclables

(correlaon=0.27)


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2.3.2KnowledgeaboutWhatCan/CannotbeRecycled

Mostrespondentsdontalwaysknowwhatcan/cannotberecycled.Buttheresponseacrossthe

differentRecycleTypesincreasesascommitmentlevelsdecrease:64%ofSuper-CommittedRecyclers,

71%ofCommittedRecyclers,and85%ofNot-CommittedRecyclers.

Figure13:69%ofallrespondentsdontalwaysknowwhatcan/cannotberecycled


SurveyquestionIknowwhatcan/cannotberecycled:



Always 44 36% 17 29% 5 15% 66 31%

Often 68 56% 25 42% 12 36% 105 49%

Sometimes 8 7% 16 27% 14 42% 38 18%

Rarely 1 1% 1 2% 2 6% 4 2%

Never 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%

Total 121 100% 59 100% 33 100% 213 100%Table10-Number/Percentofrespondentswhoknowwhatcan/cannotberecycled

2.3.3KnowledgeaboutHow,When,andWheretoRecycle

Themajorityofrespondents(84%)stronglyagreeoragreethattheywouldrecyclemoreiftheyhad

moreknowledgeabouthow,when,andwheretorecycle.Thereisverylittledifferenceintheopinions

betweentheRecyclerTypes:83%ofSuper-CommittedRecyclers,85%ofCommittedRecyclers,and

88%ofNot-CommittedRecyclers.

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

K

nowsw

hatcan

/cannotberecycle

d

Knowswhatcan/cannotberecycledby

RecyclerType

Never

Rarely

Somemes

Oen

Always


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Figure14:84%stronglyagreeoragreethatknowledgeabouttherecyclingprocesswouldmotivatethemtorecyclemore


SurveyquestionIwouldrecyclemoreifIknewmoreabouthow,when,andwheretorecycle:



StronglyAgree 39 33% 19 32% 7 21% 65 31%

Agree 59 50% 31 53% 22 67% 112 53%

NotSure 10 8% 7 12% 1 3% 18 9%

Disagree 8 7% 1 2% 2 9% 11 5%


Total 118 100% 59 100% 33 100% 210 100%Table11-Number/Percentofrespondentswhowouldrecyclemoreiftheyknewmoreabouthow,when,andwhereto

recycle

2.4AttitudesandMotivation

2.4.1HavinganEstablishedRecyclingRoutine

96%ofSuper-CommittedRecyclersand80%ofCommittedRecyclersalwaysoroftenhavean

establishedrecyclingroutine.Forthem,recyclingisahabitthathasbeenbuiltintotheireveryday

routines,withhousesorganizedtomakerecyclingasconvenientaspossible.Conversely,Not-

Committedrecyclersonlysometimes(39%),rarely(55%),ornever(6%)haveahaveanestablished

recyclingroutine.

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%70%

80%

90%

100%

SuperCommied

Recycler

CommiedRecycler

NotCommied

Recycler

Mo

vatedby

know

ledgea

boutprocess

Movatedbyknowledgeabouthow,when,and

wheretorecyclebyRecyclerType

StronglyDisagree

Disagree

NotSure

Agree

StronglyAgree


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Figure15:Super-CommittedandCommittedrecyclershaveanestablishedrecyclingroutine

BecausethecalculatedR-valueis.78,thereisamoderatelystrongcorrelationbetweenhavingan

establishedrecyclingroutineandincreasedrecycling.Theabsenceofanestablishedrecyclingroutineis

associatedwithdecreasedrecycling,

Figure16:Increasedrecyclingisassociatedwithhavinganestablishedroutine


SurveyquestionIhaveanestablishedrecyclingroutine:



Always 89 73% 7 12% 0 0% 96 45%Often 28 23% 40 68% 0 0% 68 32%

Sometimes 3 2% 2 3% 13 39% 18 8%

Rarely 2 2% 10 17% 18 55% 30 14%

Never 0 0% 0 0% 2 6% 2 1%

Total 122 100% 59 100% 33 100% 214 100%Table12-Number/Percentofrespondentswhohaveanestablishedrecyclingroutine

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

SuperCommied

Recycler

CommiedRecycler

NotCommied

Recycler

Haveanesta

blishe

dre

cyc

lingrou

ne

Haveanestablishedrecyclingrouneby

RecyclerType

Never

Rarely

Somemes

Oen

Always

y=0.6529x+1.7547R=0.60032

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Recyclescommonrecyclables?

5=Always,4=Oen,

3=Somemes,

2=Rarely,1=Never

Hasanestablishedrouneforrecycling:1=never,2=rarely,3=somemes,4=oen,5=always

Havinganestablishedrouneforrecyclingisassociatedwith

recyclingcommonrecyclables(correlaon=0.78)


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2.4.2ReminderstoRecycle

84%ofNot-CommittedRecyclersstronglyagreeoragreethatreminderswouldmotivatethemto

recyclemore.Theyseethevalueofcommunicationsmessagestohelpthemmakerecyclingahabit.The

percentageislessforSuper-CommittedRecyclers(43%)andCommittedRecyclers(51%),maybebecausemanyofthemalreadyremembertorecycle.

Figure17:84%ofNot-Committedrecyclersstronglyagreeoragreethatreminderswouldmotivatethemtorecyclemore


Surveyquestion-IwouldbemotivatedtorecyclemoreifIwasremindedtorecycle:



StronglyAgree 33 28% 20 34% 8 25% 61 29%

Agree 17 15% 10 17% 19 59% 46 22%

NotSure 12 10% 5 8% 3 9% 20 10%

Disagree 44 38% 20 34% 1 3% 65 31%


Total 116 100% 59 100% 32 100% 207 100%Table13-Number/Percentofrespondentswouldrecyclemoreiftheywereremindedto

2.4.3SocialPressuretoRecycle

Respondentshadmixedopinionsonwhetherornotsocialpressurewouldmotivatethemtorecycle

more.However,thesesmixedopinionsweresomewhatconsistentacrossthedifferentRecyclerTypes.Nearlyhalf(47%)ofallrespondentsstronglyagreeoragreethatsocialpressurewouldmotivatethemto

recyclemore:47%ofSuper-Committedrecyclers,50%ofCommittedRecyclers,and45%ofNot-

CommittedRecyclers.Athird(33%)ofallrespondentsdisagreeorstronglydisagreethatsocialpressure

wouldmotivatethemtorecyclemore:38%ofSuper-CommittedRecyclers,34%ofCommittedRecyclers,

and33%ofNot-CommittedRecyclers.And17%ofallrespondentswerenotsureifsocialpressurewould

motivatethemtorecyclemoreornot.

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%

mo

vatedbyrem

inders

WouldrecyclemoreifremindedbyRecyclerType

StronglyDisagree

Disagree

NotSure

Agree

StronglyAgree


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Figure18:47%stronglyagreeoragreethatpeerpressurewouldmotivatethemtorecyclemore


SurveyquestionIwouldbemotivatedtorecyclemoreifIfeltsocialpressuretodoso:



StronglyAgree 25 21% 8 14% 1 3% 34 16%

Agree 31 26% 21 36% 14 42% 66 31%

NotSure 19 16% 10 17% 7 21% 36 17%

Disagree 32 26% 17 29% 5 15% 54 25%


Total 121 100% 59 100% 33 100% 213 100%Table14-Number/Percentofrespondentswhowouldrecyclemoreistheyfeltsocialpressuretodoso

2.4.4FeedbackonJobsCreated

Onejobiscreatedbyincinerating10,000tonsofwaste,sixjobsarecreatedbylandfilling10,000tonsof

waste,and36jobsarecreatedbyrecycling10,000tonsofwaste(10).

Mostrespondents(79%)eitherstronglyagreeofagreethattheywouldbemotivatedtorecyclemoreif

theygotfeedbackonthemanyjobsthatarecreatedbytheirrecyclingefforts:74%ofSuper-Committed

Recyclers,90%ofCommittedRecyclers,and82%ofNot-CommittedRecyclers.

0%10%20%30%40%

50%60%70%80%90%100%

Mo

vatedbypeer

pressure

MovatedbysocialpressurebyRecyclerType

StronglyDisagree

Disagree

NotSure

Agree

StronglyAgree


19/22

19

Figure19:Gettingfeedbackonjobscreatedbyrecyclingvalidatestheimportanceofrecyclingandmotivatespeopleto

recyclemore.


SurveyquestionIwouldbemotivatedtorecyclemoreifIgotfeedbackonthemanyjobscreatedby

recycling:



StronglyAgree 41 34% 22 37% 8 24% 71 33%

Agree 49 40% 31 53% 19 58% 99 46%

NotSure 24 20% 3 5% 5 15% 32 15%

Disagree 5 4% 2 3% 1 3% 8 4%


Total 122 100% 59 100% 33 100% 214 100%Table15-Number/Percentofrespondentswhowouldrecyclemoreiftheysawthatlotsofjobsarecreatedbyrecycling

2.4.5FeedbackonEnvironmentalBenefits

Recyclinghasmanyenvironmentalbenefits.Itkeepstrashoutofthelandfill,savesenergy,conserves

naturalresources,reducesgreenhousegasemissions,andpreventspollutionthatiscreatedwhenaraw

materialisusedtomakeanewproduct(11).

Mostrespondents(77%)eitherstronglyagreeofagreethattheywouldbemotivatedtorecyclemoreif

theygotfeedbackontheenvironmentalbenefitsoftheirrecyclingefforts:72%ofSuper-Committed

Recyclers,85%ofCommittedRecyclers,and79%ofNot-CommittedRecyclers.

0%10%20%30%40%50%

60%70%80%90%100%

Mo

vatedby

fee

dbac

kon

jobscreated

Movatedbyfeedbackonrecylingjobscreated

byRecyclerType

StronglyDisagree

Disagree

NotSure

Agree

StronglyAgree


20/22

20

Figure20:Gettingfeedbackonenvironmentalbenefitsvalidatestheimportanceofrecyclingandmotivatespeopletorecycle

more


SurveyquestionIwouldbemotivatedtorecyclemoreifIgotfeedbackonfinancial/environmental

benefits:



StronglyAgree 32 27% 16 27% 8 24% 56 27%

Agree 53 45% 34 58% 18 55% 105 50%

NotSure 21 18% 6 10% 4 12% 31 15%

Disagree 9 8% 2 3% 2 6% 13 6%


Total 118 100% 59 100% 33 100% 210 100%Table16-Number/Percentofrespondentswhowouldrecyclemoreiftheygotfeedbackonfinancial/environmentalbenefits

2.4.6ContainerDepositRefunds

Respondentshadmixedopinionsaboutcontainerdepositrefunds.ClosetohalfofSuper-Committed

Recyclers(47%)andCommittedRecyclers(46%)stronglyagreeoragreethattheywouldbemotivated

torecyclemorewithcontainerdepositrefunds.WhilefewerNot-CommittedRecyclers(39%)wouldbe.

Aboutathird(31%)ofallrespondentsarenotsureifcontainerdepositrefundswouldmotivatethemto

recyclemore,21%ofSuper-CommittedRecyclers,42%ofCommittedRecyclers,and45%ofNot-

CommittedRecyclers.And32%ofSuper-CommittedRecyclersdisagreeorstronglydisagreethat

containerdepositrefundswouldmotivatethemtorecyclemore,comparedto12%ofCommitted

Recyclersand15%ofNot-CommittedRecyclers.

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

SuperCommied

Recycler

CommiedRecycler

NotCommied

Recycler

Mo

vatedby

fee

dback

on

bene

fits

Movatedbyfeedbackonenvironmentalbenefits

byRecyclerType

StronglyDisagree

Disagree

NotSure

Agree

StronglyAgree


21/22

21

Figure21:Respondentshadmixedopinionsaboutcontainerdepositrefunds


SurveyquestionsIwouldbemotivatedtorecyclemoreifIreceivedcontainerdepositrefunds:



StronglyAgree 29 24% 10 17% 5 15% 44 21%

Agree 27 23% 17 29% 8 24% 52 25%

NotSure 25 21% 25 42% 15 45% 65 31%

Disagree 26 22% 4 7% 2 6% 32 15%


Total 119 100% 59 100% 33 100% 211 100%Table17-Number/Percentofrespondentswhowouldrecyclemoreiftheyreceivedcontainerdepositrefunds

3.Conclusion

InadditiontotheexistingSCARCErecyclingeducationalprogramsandservices,thefollowingthingscan

bedonebySCARCEtohelpincreaserecyclingparticipation.

Overcomingbarriers:

Supportstrongergovernmentregulationsforthedisposalofhouseholdhazardouswaste.

Supportlegislationthatrequiresapartment/businesscomplexestoproviderecyclingservices.

Supporteffortsforspecializedcurbsiderecyclingservices,likeWasteManagementCurbside,At

YourDoorSpecialCollection(12),whichcollectshardtorecyclehouseholditems,suchasplastic

bags,electronics,andhouseholdhazardouswaste.

Encourageschools/businesses/communitiestousenationalstandardizedrecyclingbinlabels

developedbyRecycleAcrossAmerica(purchasedat

http://www.recycleacrossamerica.org/home.html)

0%10%20%30%40%50%

60%70%80%90%100%

Mo

vatedbycontaine

rdepsitre

fun

ds

Movaterdbycontainerdepositrefundsby

RecyclerType

StronglyDisagree

Disagree

NotSure

Agree

StronglyAgree


22/22

Gainingknowledge:

Encouragetheuseoffreemobileapplicationsthattellyouwhatitemsyoucanrecycleandhow,

whereandwhentheycanberecycled,usingyourcurrentlocation,ZIPcode,address,orcity-

iRecycle(http://earth911.com/irecycle )orMyRecycleList(http://1800recycling.com/mobile/)

Encouragetheuseofwebsites,suchas,http://search.earth911.com/andhttp://1800recycling.com/,tosearchtheextensivelistingsoflocaldrop-offandpickuprecycling

servicestodetermineifandwheresomethingcanberecycled.

Strengtheningmotivations:

Encouragerecyclingserviceproviderstohaveanoptionforpeopletosignupforregular

electronicremindersforcurbsidepick-up.

Educatepeoplehowtoorganizetoestablishregularrecyclingroutines.

Lookforwaystopublicizeallthedifferenttypesofjobsthatarecreatedbyrecyclingversusnot-

recycling.

Encouragerecyclingserviceproviderstoprovidecommunityimpactreportswithprogresson

recyclingefforts,convertingmaterialsintoenvironmentalbenefitslikesavedtrees,saved

energy,andpreventedpollution.

References

1.http://www.harrisinteractive.com/vault/HI-Harris-Poll-Green-Environment-2011-01-10.pdf.[Online]

2.http://www.oceanconservancy.org.[Online]

3.http://earth911.com/recycling/electronics/e-waste-harmful-materials/.[Online]

4.http://elpc.org/2011/11/29/as-recycling-expands-illinois-bans-electronics-from-landfills.[Online]

5.www.epa.gov/region1/communities/hazwast.html.[Online]

6.www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/materials/pubs/manual/appdx_a.pdf.[Online]

7.http://www.restaurant.org/pdfs/sustainability/recycling_full_survey_results.pdf.[Online]

8.http://www.recycleacrossamerica.org/Top-10-Reasons-for-National-Standardized-Labels.html.

[Online]

9.http://www.startribune.com/local/south/88836552.html?page=1&c=y&refer=y.[Online]

10.http://earth911.com/recycling/curbside-recycling/.[Online]

11.http://www.epa.gov/recycle/recycle.html.[Online]

12.http://www.curbsideinc.com/.[Online]

data analysis of recycling habits

Documents