The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of interventions based on health promotion theories in changing the recycling behavior of the targeted population. The study focused on the development and evaluation of innovative recycling education programs that address energy recovery, recycling, and waste management. The study applied Health Belief Model-(HBM) as an approach to motivate recycling behaviors and to evaluate the impact of the applied approaches on recycling set-out rates and participation. A total of 102 households from a Midwestern city participated in this study. The study was conducted over a period of six months. A Likert scale questionnaire was used to collect data on recycling and environmental knowledge, skills, behavior, and attitudes. The other set of data was the weight of recyclables that was obtained at each participant’s curb four times over the six months period of interventions. Results indicated a significant increase in average set out rates of recyclables among HBM participants (21.34 lbs. pre-test to 59.3 lbs. post-test). It was concluded that HBM educational approaches can be effective in motivating recycling. This study signifies the need for renewed effort in motivating individuals, households or businesses to recycle. Not every community or city significantly participates in recycling. Innovative strategies as well the application of approaches in the theories of behavioral change can positively influence recycling and overall waste reduction behaviors.
References
[1]
Ackerman, F. (1997) Why Do We Recycle? Markets, Values, and Public Policy. Island Press, Washington DC.
[2]
Achapan, I. (2012) The Reason behind Lack of Household Recycling Participation. A Bangkok Metropolis Case Study. Global Journal of Human Social Science Arts and Humanities, 12, 79-82.
[3]
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) (2015) Municipal Solid Waste Generation, Recycling, and Disposal in the United States: Facts and Figures for 2012. https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/studies-summary-tables-and-data-related
[4]
Gamba, R. and Oskamp, S. (1994) Factors Influencing Community Residents’ Participation in Commingled Curbside Recycling Programs. Environmental and Behavior, 26, 587-612. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013916594265001
[5]
Hershkowitz, A. (1998) In Defense of Recycling. Social Research, 65, 141-218.
[6]
White House Task Force on Recycling (2000) Recycling for the Future. http://www.grrn.org/assets/pdfs/wasting/WRUS.pdf
[7]
Hoornweg, D. and Bhada-Tata, P. (2012) What a Waste: A Global Review of Solid Waste Management. Urban Development Series; Knowledge Papers No. 15. World Bank, Washington DC. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/17388
[8]
Kaza, S., Yao, L.C., Bhada-Tata, P. and Van Woerden, F. (2018) What a Waste 2.0: A Global Snapshot of Solid Waste Management to 2050. Urban Development. World Bank, Washington DC. https://doi.org/10.1596/978-1-4648-1329-0 https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/30317
[9]
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) Frequent Questions on Recycling. https://www.epa.gov/recycle/frequent-questions-recycling
[10]
Schultz, P.W. (2002) Knowledge, Information, and Household Recycling: Examining the Knowledge-Deficit Model of Behavior Change. In: Dietz, T. and Stern, P.C., Eds., New Tools for Environmental Protection: Education, Information and Voluntary Measures, National Academy Press, Washington DC, 67-82.
[11]
Pew Research Center (2016) Perceptions and Realities of Recycling Vary Widely from Place to Place. http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/10/07/perceptions-and-realities-of-recycling-vary-widely-from-place-to-place
[12]
Oskamp, S.R., Burkhardt, P.W., Schultz, S.H., Hurin, S. and Zelezny, L. (1998) Predicting Three Dimensions of Residential Curbside Recycling: An Observational Study. Journal of Environmental Education, 29, 37-42. https://doi.org/10.1080/00958969809599111
[13]
Parker, E.A., Baldwin, G.T., Israel, B. and Salinas, M.A. (2004) Application of Health Promotion Theories and Models for Environmental Health. Health Education and Behavior, 31, 491-509. https://doi.org/10.1177/1090198104265601
[14]
Howze, E.H., Baldwin, G.T. and Kegler, M.C. (2004) Environmental Health Promotion: Bridging Traditional Environmental Health and Health Promotion. Health Education and Behavior, 31, 429-440. https://doi.org/10.1177/1090198104265591
[15]
Kegler, M.C. and Miner, K. (2004) Environmental Health Promotion Interventions: Considerations for Preparation and Practice. Health Education and Behavior, 31, 510-525. https://doi.org/10.1177/1090198104265602
[16]
Rosenstock, I.M. (1974) Historical Origins of the Health Belied Model. Health Education Monogram, 2, 328-335. https://doi.org/10.1177/109019817400200403
[17]
Janz, N.K. and Becker, M.H. (1984) The Health Belief Model: A Decade Later. Health Education Quarterly, 11, 1-47. https://doi.org/10.1177/109019818401100101
[18]
Glanz, K., Rimer, B.K. and Lewis, F.M. (2008) Health Behavior and Education: Theory, Research, and Practice. 4rd Edition, Jossey-Bass, San Francisco.
[19]
Gillbrand, R. and Stevenson, J. (2006) The Extended Health Belief Model Applied to the Experience of Diabetes in Young People. British Journal of Health Psychology, 11, 155-169. https://doi.org/10.1348/135910705X39485
[20]
Lin, P., Simoni, J. and Zemon, V. (2005) The Health Belief Model, Sexual Behaviors, and HIV Risk among Taiwanese Immigrants. AIDS Education and Prevention, 17, 469-483. https://doi.org/10.1521/aeap.2005.17.5.469
[21]
Campbell, D.T. and Stanley, J.C. (1973) Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Designs for Research. Rand McNally College Publishing Company, Chicago.
[22]
Shadish, W.R., Cook, T.D. and Campbell, D.T. (2002) Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Designs for Generalized Causal Inferences. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston.
[23]
Creswell, J.W. (2018) Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. Sage Publications, Inc., Thousand Oaks.
[24]
Morgan, D.L. (1998) Practical Strategies for Combining Qualitative and Quantitative Methods: Application to Health Research. Qualitative Health Research, 8, 362-376. https://doi.org/10.1177/104973239800800307
[25]
Barr, S. (2002) Household Waste in Social Perspective: Values, Attitudes, Situation and Behavior. Ashgate Publishing Ltd., Aldershot.
[26]
Cronbach, L.J. (1951) Coefficient Alpha and the Internal Structure of Tests. Psychometrika, 16, 297-334. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02310555
[27]
Garson, D. (2016) Reliability Analysis. http://www.statisticalassociates.com/validityandreliability_p.pdf
