Interdisciplinary, systematic review found influences on household recycling behaviour are many and multifaceted, requiring a multi-level approach.

Abstract

Recycling is a common policy response to problems of waste, particularly in developed countries. Understanding what influences whether and how well people recycle is important for optimising recycling outcomes. Behaviour is complex, and understanding it fully requires drawing on insights from many disciplines. However past reviews of recycling behaviour research have revealed that the field is currently fragmented into single discipline endeavours, and highly concentrated around psychological approaches. The objective of this paper was to conduct a systematic review of current published knowledge from a wide range of disciplines on what influences households recycling behaviour. The resulting factors were systematically synthesised to produce a comprehensive multi-level hierarchy of potentially influencing factors. The process also revealed potential directions for future research to improve the field’s understanding of the influences on recycling behaviour, and the ability to develop more effective interventions that address waste and recycling issues.