Influencing household-level waste-sorting and composting behaviour: What works? A systematic review (1995–2020) of waste management interventions

Sewak, Aarti; Kim, Jeawon; Rundle‐Thiele, Sharyn; Deshpande, Sameer

doi:10.1177/0734242x20985608

Cited by 44 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 94 publications

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“…Most waste policy interventions are devoid of coproduction in terms of understanding the user’s needs and situations and involving them in formulating strategies to resolve household recycling issues ( Alfaia et al, 2017 ; Sewak et al, 2021 ). The non-involvement of citizens in formulating waste policies and strategies has resulted in public distrust in government waste policies, and thus a barrier to effective implementation of such policies ( Drimili et al, 2020 ; Pollans, 2017 ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In summary, although communication has been identified as an important factor in influencing recycling, either positively through efficient recycling communication system or negatively through lack of awareness and recycling information (McDonald and Oates, 2003;WRAP, 2014b), other factors such as resident behaviours, situations, infrastructure and space also play important roles in influencing recycling rate or output (Timlett and Williams, 2011). Communication strategies employed by most local authorities in dealing with public recycling behaviour still depend on traditional approaches (Sewak et al, 2021), and therefore, there is a need to shift to contemporary methods of communication and residents' engagement to capture a wider audience.…”

Section: Effective Communication and Public Engagementmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A critical review of household recycling barriers in the United Kingdom

et al. 2021

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The UK recycling rate fluctuates between 45% and 47% and has consistently failed to meet the 65% target set by the post-Brexit Resource and Waste Strategy. Understanding the issues surrounding the low recycling rate in metropolitan cities in the United Kingdom will help to overcome these recycling challenges. The review examines the current situation with regard to the recycling rate and tonnage of waste produced in the United Kingdom based on available secondary waste flow data and explores different barriers related to household recycling. Many areas giving rise to the recycling challenges have been identified, including waste policy constraints, lack of effective communication, public engagement, physical barriers, service constraints, human factors and socio-economic barriers. The literature review reveals that factors such as waste policy, communication and physical factors were the most important aspects in influencing recycling rate or output. It is concluded that a multi-dimension intervention is required, which includes a thorough review of waste policy, a more stringent enforcement, an improved communication strategy and a more integrated planning development policy to mitigate issues affecting the United Kingdom’s low recycling rate or output. This approach will propel the local authorities to launch or initiate effective recycling management and to put in place the required infrastructure to facilitate effective recycling activities.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Effective Communication and Public Engagementmentioning

confidence: 99%

A critical review of household recycling barriers in the United Kingdom

et al. 2021

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“…Easy access to a segregated waste disposal system is crucial for better practices, proved in the various door-to-door waste pickup and recycling bin interventions [ 31 , 32 , 33 ]. Narrow lanes hamper doorstepping, a concern voiced by research participants.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dynamics of Household Waste Segregation Behaviour in Urban Community in Ujjain, India: A Framework Analysis

Sahoo

Soni

Kalyanasundaram

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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Waste segregation practices must be socially acceptable, affordable, context-specific, and participatory, which is essential for promoting waste segregation. Therefore, this study explored the urban community members’ motivation, opportunity, and household waste segregation ability. We performed a qualitative study in Ujjain city, India. Ten focus group discussions and eight in-depth interviews were conducted with female and male household members in residential and slum areas. All interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed, and translated. We used the thematic framework technique using the Motivation-Opportunity-Ability-Behaviour theory for analysis. Three themes were constructed: motivation, where household members are motivated to sort waste yet fear the consequences of improper sorting; ability, where household waste segregation is rapidly gaining acceptance as a social norm; and opportunities, involving convenient facilities and a social support system for household members towards waste segregation. This study contributes to developing a knowledge base on waste segregation behaviour and a repertoire to facilitate evidence-based management and policymaking. There is a need for educational intervention and women’s self-help groups’ involvement to develop community orientation and waste segregation literacy. Finally, this study emphasizes the importance of all three behavioural change components, i.e., motivation, opportunity, and ability, in managing sustainable waste segregation practices.

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“…Recent research has used audience segmenting to identify specific community engagement strategies [24][25][26]97,98]. This runs alongside studies into use of social media marketing and messaging, with the latter showing better results in raising household food waste awareness than the more traditional methods [23,33,99]. It also corroborates other evidence that awareness-generated behaviour change proves most effective when combined with a range of other factors such as convenience, resources, understanding, and carefully worded messaging that makes connections to individual values and environmental benefits [95,100].…”

Section: Engagement and Empowerment: Generating Pro-environmental Pat...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Out of Sight, Out of Mind: Using Post-Kerbside Organics Treatment Systems to Engage Australian Communities with Pro-Environmental Household Food Waste Behaviours

et al. 2022

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Dealing with the wicked problem of global food waste and loss is a complex and challenging area. In Australia, increased political will has landed the diversion of domestic food waste from landfill squarely at the feet of local government (councils), often requiring significant change to kerbside collections systems. This paper discusses how post-kerbside household food waste treatment systems can encourage pro-environmental behaviours. To achieve this, current food waste literature is examined against kerbside domestic waste collection measurable outcomes (diversion rates, system uptake and contamination rates). The hypothesis is that specific interventions can establish, or rebuild, community trust, responsibility and pro-environmental behaviours around food waste avoidance and diversion. Two post-kerbside systems—commercial composting and anaerobic digestion—provided the framework. Two themes emerged from the study: (1) the benefits of connecting the community with the interactions of household food waste inputs with post-treatment outputs (compost, soil conditioners, digestates and biogases); and (2) providing engaged communities with pathways for sustainable, pro-environmental actions whilst normalizing correct kerbside food waste recycling for the less engaged (habitual behaviours, knowledge and cooperation). The paper contributes to understanding how councils can connect their communities with the issues of household food waste.

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Influencing household-level waste-sorting and composting behaviour: What works? A systematic review (1995–2020) of waste management interventions

Cited by 44 publications

References 94 publications

A critical review of household recycling barriers in the United Kingdom

A critical review of household recycling barriers in the United Kingdom

Dynamics of Household Waste Segregation Behaviour in Urban Community in Ujjain, India: A Framework Analysis

Out of Sight, Out of Mind: Using Post-Kerbside Organics Treatment Systems to Engage Australian Communities with Pro-Environmental Household Food Waste Behaviours

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