Factors Influencing Community Residents' Participation in Commingled Curbside Recycling Programs

Examined specific motives for recycling (RCY) and actual RCY behavior in a suburb with a new commingled RCY program. A survey of environmental and RCY attitudes and knowledge and self-reported current and previous RCY behavior was mailed to 603 households with a 76% response rate. Direct observations of actual RCY behavior, made on 5 successive collection days, showed a 68% average participation rate with a total participation rate of 91% (below the self-reported rate of 99%). Relevant RCY knowledge was the most significant predictor of observed RCY behavior. Four content-specific motivations for or against RCY (concern for the environment, pressure, personal inconvenience, and system limitations) and relevant RCY knowledge were the only significant predictors of self-reported RCY behavior. These motivational factors were not significant predictors of observed RCY behavior, but did discriminate between frequent and infrequent recyclers.