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Convenience improves composting and recycling rates in high-density residential buildings

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  • Alessandra DiGiacomo
  • David W.-L. Wu
  • Peter Lenkic
  • Bud Fraser
  • Jiaying Zhao
  • Alan Kingstone

Abstract

Increasing volumes of solid waste, implicated in environmental pollution and health problems, are central to the current environmental crisis. In two randomized field experiments, we demonstrate that convenience dramatically boosts recycling and composting rates in multi-family dwellings and university residences. When compost bins were placed on each floor in a multi-family residence, instead of on the ground floor, composting rates increased by 70%, diverting 27 kilograms of compost from the landfill per unit per year. When recycling stations were placed just meters from suites in student residences, instead of in the basement, recycling increased by 147% (container), and 137% (paper), and composting increased by 139%, diverting 23, 22, and 14 kilograms of containers, paper, and compost, respectively, from the landfill per person per year. Simply making recycling and composting convenient can significantly increase waste diversion, and as such this single intervention has important implications for waste management and environmental policy.

Suggested Citation

  • Alessandra DiGiacomo & David W.-L. Wu & Peter Lenkic & Bud Fraser & Jiaying Zhao & Alan Kingstone, 2018. "Convenience improves composting and recycling rates in high-density residential buildings," Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 61(2), pages 309-331, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:taf:jenpmg:v:61:y:2018:i:2:p:309-331
    DOI: 10.1080/09640568.2017.1305332
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    4. Andrew S. Hanks & David R. Just & Brian Wansink, 2012. "Healthy Convenience: Nudging Students Toward Healthier Choices in Lunchroom," Working Papers 03, Cornell Center for Behavioral Economics in Child Nutrition Programs.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ryan Woodard & Anthea Rossouw, 2021. "An Evaluation of Interventions for Improving Pro-Environmental Waste Behaviour in Social Housing," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-16, June.
    2. Esther Lee & Gerald Shurson & Sang-Hyon Oh & Jae-Cheol Jang, 2024. "The Management of Food Waste Recycling for a Sustainable Future: A Case Study on South Korea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-17, January.
    3. Guadalupe Martínez-Borreguero & Jesús Maestre-Jiménez & Milagros Mateos-Núñez & Francisco Luis Naranjo-Correa, 2019. "Knowledge Analysis of the Prospective Secondary School Teacher on a Key Concept in Sustainability: Waste," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-28, February.
    4. Emilia den Boer & Kamil Banaszkiewicz & Jan den Boer & Iwona Pasiecznik, 2022. "Energy Recovery from Waste—Closing the Municipal Loop," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-20, February.
    5. Acuti, Diletta & Lemarié, Linda & Viglia, Giampaolo, 2023. "How to enhance the sustainable disposal of harmful products," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 186(PB).

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