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Improving solid waste reduction and recycling performance using goal setting and feedback

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  • Helen Lingard
  • Guinevere Gilbert
  • Peter Graham

Abstract

A multiple-baseline experiment design across waste streams was used to determine the effectiveness of a goal setting and feedback intervention in bringing about improved solid waste management performance on a sports stadium construction site in Australia. A desktop method was used to measure the volume of timber and construction waste disposed as landfill and recycled. A general index of material usage efficiency and two recycling indices were calculated. Performance was measured each fortnight and formal goal setting and performance feedback were introduced to the timber and concrete waste streams. The intervention was effective in reducing the volume of waste disposed as landfill and increasing material usage efficiency, indicating that solid waste was reduced at source or re-used. Recycling performance did not improve significantly with the introduction of the intervention. This may be due to the way in which construction workers perceive the costs and benefits of recycling.

Suggested Citation

  • Helen Lingard & Guinevere Gilbert & Peter Graham, 2001. "Improving solid waste reduction and recycling performance using goal setting and feedback," Construction Management and Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 19(8), pages 809-817.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:conmgt:v:19:y:2001:i:8:p:809-817
    DOI: 10.1080/01446190110070952
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Balderjahn, Ingo, 1988. "Personality variables and environmental attitudes as predictors of ecologically responsible consumption patterns," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 17(1), pages 51-56, August.
    2. Helen Lingard & Peter Graham & Guinevere Smithers, 2000. "Employee perceptions of the solid waste management system operating in a large Australian contracting organization: implications for company policy implementation," Construction Management and Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(4), pages 383-393.
    3. Chun-Li Peng & Domenic Scorpio & Charles Kibert, 1997. "Strategies for successful construction and demolition waste recycling operations," Construction Management and Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 15(1), pages 49-58.
    4. Richard Hill & Paul Bowen, 1997. "Sustainable construction: principles and a framework for attainment," Construction Management and Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 15(3), pages 223-239.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Matthew C. Davis & Kerrie L. Unsworth & Sally V. Russell & Jennifer J. Galvan, 2020. "Can green behaviors really be increased for all employees? Trade‐offs for “deep greens” in a goal‐oriented green human resource management intervention," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(2), pages 335-346, February.
    3. Pitt, Michael & Smith, Andrew, 2003. "Waste management efficiency at UK airports," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 9(2), pages 103-111.
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    6. Michael Pitt & Andrew Smith, 2003. "An assessment of waste management efficiency at BAA airports," Construction Management and Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 21(4), pages 421-431.
    7. Begum, Rawshan Ara & Siwar, Chamhuri & Pereira, Joy Jacqueline & Jaafar, Abdul Hamid, 2009. "Attitude and behavioral factors in waste management in the construction industry of Malaysia," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 53(6), pages 321-328.
    8. Rhodes, Ryan E. & Beauchamp, Mark R. & Conner, Mark & deBruijn, Gert-Jan & Latimer-Cheung, Amy & Kaushal, Navin, 2014. "Are mere instructions enough? Evaluation of four types of messaging on community depot recycling," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 1-8.
    9. Wang, Jiayuan & Yuan, Hongping & Kang, Xiangping & Lu, Weisheng, 2010. "Critical success factors for on-site sorting of construction waste: A china study," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 54(11), pages 931-936.
    10. Gabriela Michalek & Ines Thronicker & Özgür Yildiz & Reimund Schwarze, 2019. "Habitually green: integrating the concept of habit into the design of pro-environmental interventions at the workplace [Gewohnheitsmäßig grün: Integration des Konzepts der Gewohnheit in die Gestalt," Sustainability Nexus Forum, Springer, vol. 27(2), pages 113-124, June.
    11. Li, Mei & Yang, Jay, 2014. "Critical factors for waste management in office building retrofit projects in Australia," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 85-98.

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