Validation, Persuasion and Recycling: Capitalizing on the Social Ecology of Newspaper Use

Articles
Werner, Carol M.; Byerly, Sari; White, Paul H.; Kieffer, Matthew (2004). Validation, Persuasion and Recycling: Capitalizing on the Social Ecology of Newspaper Use. Basic and Applied Social Psychology, 26, 2, 183-198.
Two experiments used clinical validation to increase scrutiny of messages posted in public settings. The first experiment used a 2 (validation: no/yes) × 2 (persuasion: none/"it i…

Using Community-Based Social Marketing Techniques to Enhance Environmental Regulation

Articles
Kennedy, A. (2010). Using Community-Based Social Marketing Techniques to Enhance Environmental Regulation. Sustainability, 2(4), 1138-1160
This article explores how environmental regulation may be improved through the use of community-based social marketing techniques. While regulation is an important tool of sustain…

Signs that Encourage Internalized Recycling: Clinical Validation, Weak Messages and 'Creative Elaboration'

Articles
Werner, C., White, P., Byerly, S., & Stoll, R. (2009). Signs that encourage internalized recycling: Clinical validation, weak messages and 'creative elaboration.'. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 29(2), 193-202.
Two experiments examined clinical validation’s ability to increase examination of a persuasive message and increase long-term recycling. In Experiment 1, validating (acknowledging…

It Matters a Hole Lot: Perceptual Affordances of Waste Containers Influence Recycling Compliance

Articles
Duffy, S., & Verges, M. (2009). It matters a hole lot: Perceptual affordances of waste containers influence recycling compliance. Environment and Behavior, 41(5), 741-749.
This article examines whether specialized lids on waste receptacles affect recycling compliance in public settings. Thirty waste receptacles were assigned to a lids-present and li…

Waste Receptacle Designs as Interventions for Litter Control

Articles
Geller, E. S., Brasted, W. S. & Mann, M. F. (1979). Waste receptacle designs as interventions for litter control. Journal of Environmental Systems, 9, 2, 145-160.
Two experiments in an indoor shopping mall examined relationships between trash-receptacle design and litter-disposal behaviors. For the first study, the trash deposited in six t…

Litter Reduction: A Review and Integration of the Literature. Special Issue: Litter Control and Recycling

Articles
Huffman, K. T., Grossnickle, W. F., Cope, J. G., & Huffman, K. P. (1995). Litter reduction: A review and integration of the literature. Special Issue: Litter control and recycling. Environment and Behavior, 27, 2, 153-183.
Examined 40 articles and 59 studies that employed either an antecedent strategy (ATS) or consequence strategy (CQS) to integrate behavioral and social changes in communities and i…

Evaluating Participation in a Residential Recycling Program

Articles
Jacobs, H. E. & Bailey, J. S. (1982-83). Evaluating participation in a residential recycling program. Journal of Environmental Systems, 12, 2, 141-152.
The present study examined the effects of prompting, payment for material, a lottery, and frequency of collection on household participation in a residential recycling program. H…

Recycling as Altruistic Behavior: Normative and Behavioral Strategies to Expand Participation in a Community Recycling Program

Articles
Hopper, J. R., & Nielsen, J. M. (1991). Recycling as altruistic behavior: Normative and behavioral strategies to expand participation in a community recycling program. Environment and Behavior, 23, 2, 195-220.
Experimental and survey data from 122 residents of a large urban neighborhood with a community-wide curbside recycling program confirm that recycling behavior is consistent with S…

Motivating Beverage Container Recycling on a College Campus

Articles
Luyben, P. & Cummings, S. (1981-1982). Motivating beverage container recycling on a college campus. Journal of Environmental Systems, 11, 3, 235-245.
Maintaining our materials base for production in the face of the declining energy and materials resources requires effective procedures to encourage recycling of scarce resources.…

Newspaper Recycling Behavior: The Effects of Prompting and Proximity of Containers

Articles
Reid, D. H., Luyben, P. D., Rawers, R. J. & Bailey, J. S. (1976). Newspaper recycling behavior: the effects of prompting and proximity of containers. Environment and Behavior, 8, 471-481.
Used a multiple baseline experimental design to investigate prompting and proximity of recycling containers as variables affecting newspaper recycling by apartment residents. Fo…

North America

Introductory Workshop

Jun 10th - 12th, 2026

Registration Ending Soon!
Learn More

Brisbane

Introductory Workshop

Oct 13th - 14th, 2026

Learn More

Perth

Introductory Workshop

Oct 19th - 20th, 2026

Learn More

Melbourne

Introductory & Advanced Workshops

Oct 27th - 30th, 2026

Learn More

Auckland

Introductory & Advanced Workshops

Nov 9th - 12th, 2026

Learn More
New 4TH Edition

Available Today!

Fostering Sustainable Behavior Book Cover

The latest edition of Fostering Sustainable Behavior features updated research, case studies, and practical strategies that can substantially impact the adoption of sustainable behaviors.

Site Courtesy of
McKenzie-Mohr & Associates

Expertise in Community-Based Social Marketing