Participation in residential organic waste diversion programs: Motivators and optimizing educational messaging

Gary J Pickering; Hannah M G Pickering; Ashley Northcotte; Catherine Habermabl

doi:10.1016/j.resconrec.2020.104807

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Participation in residential organic waste diversion programs: Motivators and optimizing educational messaging

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Participation in residential organic waste diversion programs: Motivators and optimizing educational messaging

Gary J Pickering, Hannah M G Pickering, Ashley Northcotte and Catherine Habermabl

Resources, Conservation and Recycling, Vol.158, 104807

2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2020.104807

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Abstract

pro-environmental behavior

organic waste

motivators

climate change

environmental education

message framing

Participation in residential organic-waste-diversion-programs (OWDP) represents an individual-level behaviour with significant environmental benefits, including lowering greenhouse gas emissions. This study of 2621 Niagara, Canada, residents sought to understand the attitudinal and sociodemographic drivers of participation and non-participation in OWDP. Additionally, we examined the impact of messaging about the benefits of OWDP on likelihood of future participation while varying the frame and perceived source of information. Participants reported environmental factors as the main motivators for OWDP involvement, while non-participants cited smell, inconvenience and cost as the most salient barriers. Several sociodemographic and knowledge factors predicted participation, as did strong recognition of the anthropogenic origins of climate change. Forty two percent of non-participants were more likely to participate after receiving the educational message, but this did not vary with information source nor a social-norm frame. These findings inform theory around pro-environmental behaviour and provide actionable information for education campaigns aimed at promoting OWDP.

Details

Title: Participation in residential organic waste diversion programs: Motivators and optimizing educational messaging
Authors: Gary J Pickering (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast
Hannah M G Pickering (Author) - Public Works Department, Niagara Region, Canada
Ashley Northcotte (Author) - Public Works Department, Niagara Region, Canada
Catherine Habermabl (Author) - Public Works Department, Niagara Region, Canada
Publication details: Resources, Conservation and Recycling, Vol.158, 104807
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date published: 2020
DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2020.104807
ISSN: 0921-3449
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; Sustainability Research Cluster
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99451326902621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Engineering, Environmental; Environmental Sciences

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