Predicting Recycling Behavior from Global and Specific Environmental Attitudes and Changes in Recycling Opportunities
Vining, J., & Ebreo, A. (1992). Predicting recycling behavior from global and specific environmental attitudes and changes in recycling opportunities. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 22, 20, 1580-1607.
Surveys of 1,028 households in a medium-sized city were conducted annually for 3 yrs to investigate changes in general environmental concern (as measured by R. E. Dunlap and K. D. Van Liere's (1978) paradigm), specific recycling attitudes (as measured by constructs of S. H. Schwartz's (1977) moral norm model), and recycling behavior that occurred as recycling opportunities increased over time. After the initial data point, a voluntary curbside recycling program was implemented in central sections of the community and later expanded citywide. The proportion of households indicating that they recycled increased over time, as did the volume of material recycled. General environmental concern and specific attitudes regarding recycling became more favorable over time, with recyclers showing stronger pro-environmental attitudes than nonrecyclers. Specific recycling attitudes were only moderately related to generalized concern for the environment.
