Recycling Behavior in a Multicultural Urban Area in Sweden
Alabastern, a multicultural rental housing area in the Växjö city of Sweden, was identified as poor at recycling household waste compared to other housing areas in the town. In this paper, a qualitative and quantitative analysis is conducted to understand the underlying causes of waste recycling behavior of the tenants. Results showed that majority of the studied participants perceived themselves to be environmentally friendly. They reported that they recycled household waste quite often, but it was the other tenants who did not sort their waste properly. The respondents identified the causes of the improper waste recycling as lack of attitude and awareness, limitation of communication, sense of insecurity, lack of means to transport bulky waste, limitation of the recycling room, and inadequate action by the housing company Växjöbostäder.
[1] Saffron, L., L. Giusti, and D. Pheby, The human health impact of waste management practices: A review of the literature and an evaluation of the evidence. Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal, 2003. 14(2): p. 191-213.
[2] Johansson, K., Understanding recycling behavior: a study of motivational factors behind waste recycling. WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment; WIT Press: Ashurst, UK, 2016. 202: p. 401-414.
[3] The Swedish Waste Management Association, Swedish Waste Management. 2018: Malmö, Sweden.
[4] Howenstine, E., Market segmentation for recycling. Environment and Behavior, 1993. 25(1): p. 86-102.
[5] McDonald, S. and C. Oates, Reasons for non-participation in a kerbside recycling scheme. Resources, conservation and recycling, 2003. 39(4): p. 369-385.
[6] Meneses, G.D. and A.B. Palacio, Recycling behavior: a multidimensional approach. Environment and behavior, 2005. 37(6): p. 837-860.
[7] Oke, A., Workplace waste recycling behaviour: A meta-analytical review. Sustainability, 2015. 7(6): p. 7175-7194.
[8] Passafaro, P., S. Livi, and A. Kosic, Local norms and the theory of planned behavior: Understanding the effects of spatial proximity on recycling intentions and self-reported behavior. Frontiers in psychology, 2019. 10: p. 744.
[9] Refsgaard, K. and K. Magnussen, Household behaviour and attitudes with respect to recycling food waste–experiences from focus groups. Journal of Environmental management, 2009. 90(2): p. 760-771.
[10] Steg, L. and C. Vlek, Encouraging pro-environmental behaviour: An integrative review and research agenda. Journal of environmental psychology, 2009. 29(3): p. 309-317.
[11] Miafodzyeva, S., N. Brandt, and M. Andersson, Recycling behaviour of householders living in multicultural urban area: a case study of Järva, Stockholm, Sweden. Waste Management & Research, 2013. 31(5): p. 447-457.
[12] Coggins, P., Who is the recycler. Journal of Waste Management and Resource Recovery, 1994. 1(2): p. 1-7.
[13] McDonald, S. and R. Ball, Public participation in plastics recycling schemes. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 1998. 22(3-4): p. 123-141.
[14] Tucker, P., Normative influences in household waste recycling. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 1999. 42(1): p. 63.
[15] Thomas, C. and V. Sharp, Understanding the normalisation of recycling behaviour and its implications for other pro-environmental behaviours: A review of social norms and recycling. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 2013. 79: p. 11-20.
[16] Belton, V., et al., A survey of public attitudes to recycling in Glasgow (UK). Waste Management & Research, 1994. 12(4): p. 351-367.
[17] Perrin, D. and J. Barton, Issues associated with transforming household attitudes and opinions into materials recovery: a review of two kerbside recycling schemes. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 2001. 33(1): p. 61-74.
[18] Vencatasawmy, C.P., M. Öhman, and T. Brännström, A survey of recycling behaviour in households in Kiruna, Sweden. Waste Management and Research, 2000. 18(6): p. 545-556.
[19] Ando, A.W. and A.Y. Gosselin, Recycling in multifamily dwellings: does convenience matter? Economic inquiry, 2005. 43(2): p. 426-438.
[20] Oskamp, S., et al., Factors influencing household recycling behavior. Environment and behavior, 1991. 23(4): p. 494-519.
[21] Barr, S., N.J. Ford, and A.W. Gilg, Attitudes towards recycling household waste in Exeter, Devon: quantitative and qualitative approaches. Local Environment, 2003. 8(4): p. 407-421.
[22] Martin, M., I.D. Williams, and M. Clark, Social, cultural and structural influences on household waste recycling: A case study. Resources, conservation and recycling, 2006. 48(4): p. 357-395.
[23] Barr, S., Factors influencing environmental attitudes and behaviors: A UK case study of household waste management. Environment and behavior, 2007. 39(4): p. 435-473.
[24] Pocock, R., et al., Barriers to recycling at home. Banbury, UK: Waste and Resources Action Programme, 2008.
[25] Schultz, P.W., S. Oskamp, and T. Mainieri, Who recycles and when? A review of personal and situational factors. Journal of environmental psychology, 1995. 15(2): p. 105-121.
[26] Perry, G. and I. Williams, The participation of ethnic minorities in kerbside recycling: A case study. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 2007. 49(3): p. 308-323.
[27] Hage, O., P. Söderholm, and C. Berglund, Norms and economic motivation in household recycling: Empirical evidence from Sweden. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 2009. 53(3): p. 155-165.
[28] RRF, Household Waste Behavior in London. 2001: Skipton, UK.
[29] Do Valle, P.O., et al., Behavioral determinants of household recycling participation: the Portuguese case. Environment and behavior, 2004. 36(4): p. 505-540.
[30] Hornik, J., et al., Determinants of recycling behavior: A synthesis of research results. The Journal of Socio-Economics, 1995. 24(1): p. 105-127.
[31] Mahapatra, K., Resource Efficient Cities Implementing Advanced Smart City Solutions - READY. 2020.
[1] Saffron, L., L. Giusti, and D. Pheby, The human health impact of waste management practices: A review of the literature and an evaluation of the evidence. Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal, 2003. 14(2): p. 191-213.
[2] Johansson, K., Understanding recycling behavior: a study of motivational factors behind waste recycling. WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment; WIT Press: Ashurst, UK, 2016. 202: p. 401-414.
[3] The Swedish Waste Management Association, Swedish Waste Management. 2018: Malmö, Sweden.
[4] Howenstine, E., Market segmentation for recycling. Environment and Behavior, 1993. 25(1): p. 86-102.
[5] McDonald, S. and C. Oates, Reasons for non-participation in a kerbside recycling scheme. Resources, conservation and recycling, 2003. 39(4): p. 369-385.
[6] Meneses, G.D. and A.B. Palacio, Recycling behavior: a multidimensional approach. Environment and behavior, 2005. 37(6): p. 837-860.
[7] Oke, A., Workplace waste recycling behaviour: A meta-analytical review. Sustainability, 2015. 7(6): p. 7175-7194.
[8] Passafaro, P., S. Livi, and A. Kosic, Local norms and the theory of planned behavior: Understanding the effects of spatial proximity on recycling intentions and self-reported behavior. Frontiers in psychology, 2019. 10: p. 744.
[9] Refsgaard, K. and K. Magnussen, Household behaviour and attitudes with respect to recycling food waste–experiences from focus groups. Journal of Environmental management, 2009. 90(2): p. 760-771.
[10] Steg, L. and C. Vlek, Encouraging pro-environmental behaviour: An integrative review and research agenda. Journal of environmental psychology, 2009. 29(3): p. 309-317.
[11] Miafodzyeva, S., N. Brandt, and M. Andersson, Recycling behaviour of householders living in multicultural urban area: a case study of Järva, Stockholm, Sweden. Waste Management & Research, 2013. 31(5): p. 447-457.
[12] Coggins, P., Who is the recycler. Journal of Waste Management and Resource Recovery, 1994. 1(2): p. 1-7.
[13] McDonald, S. and R. Ball, Public participation in plastics recycling schemes. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 1998. 22(3-4): p. 123-141.
[14] Tucker, P., Normative influences in household waste recycling. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 1999. 42(1): p. 63.
[15] Thomas, C. and V. Sharp, Understanding the normalisation of recycling behaviour and its implications for other pro-environmental behaviours: A review of social norms and recycling. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 2013. 79: p. 11-20.
[16] Belton, V., et al., A survey of public attitudes to recycling in Glasgow (UK). Waste Management & Research, 1994. 12(4): p. 351-367.
[17] Perrin, D. and J. Barton, Issues associated with transforming household attitudes and opinions into materials recovery: a review of two kerbside recycling schemes. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 2001. 33(1): p. 61-74.
[18] Vencatasawmy, C.P., M. Öhman, and T. Brännström, A survey of recycling behaviour in households in Kiruna, Sweden. Waste Management and Research, 2000. 18(6): p. 545-556.
[19] Ando, A.W. and A.Y. Gosselin, Recycling in multifamily dwellings: does convenience matter? Economic inquiry, 2005. 43(2): p. 426-438.
[20] Oskamp, S., et al., Factors influencing household recycling behavior. Environment and behavior, 1991. 23(4): p. 494-519.
[21] Barr, S., N.J. Ford, and A.W. Gilg, Attitudes towards recycling household waste in Exeter, Devon: quantitative and qualitative approaches. Local Environment, 2003. 8(4): p. 407-421.
[22] Martin, M., I.D. Williams, and M. Clark, Social, cultural and structural influences on household waste recycling: A case study. Resources, conservation and recycling, 2006. 48(4): p. 357-395.
[23] Barr, S., Factors influencing environmental attitudes and behaviors: A UK case study of household waste management. Environment and behavior, 2007. 39(4): p. 435-473.
[24] Pocock, R., et al., Barriers to recycling at home. Banbury, UK: Waste and Resources Action Programme, 2008.
[25] Schultz, P.W., S. Oskamp, and T. Mainieri, Who recycles and when? A review of personal and situational factors. Journal of environmental psychology, 1995. 15(2): p. 105-121.
[26] Perry, G. and I. Williams, The participation of ethnic minorities in kerbside recycling: A case study. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 2007. 49(3): p. 308-323.
[27] Hage, O., P. Söderholm, and C. Berglund, Norms and economic motivation in household recycling: Empirical evidence from Sweden. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 2009. 53(3): p. 155-165.
[28] RRF, Household Waste Behavior in London. 2001: Skipton, UK.
[29] Do Valle, P.O., et al., Behavioral determinants of household recycling participation: the Portuguese case. Environment and behavior, 2004. 36(4): p. 505-540.
[30] Hornik, J., et al., Determinants of recycling behavior: A synthesis of research results. The Journal of Socio-Economics, 1995. 24(1): p. 105-127.
[31] Mahapatra, K., Resource Efficient Cities Implementing Advanced Smart City Solutions - READY. 2020.
@article{"International Journal of Earth, Energy and Environmental Sciences:80452", author = "Krushna Mahapatra and Atefeh Dadvar and Brijesh Mainali", title = "Recycling Behavior in a Multicultural Urban Area in Sweden", abstract = "Alabastern, a multicultural rental housing area in the Växjö city of Sweden, was identified as poor at recycling household waste compared to other housing areas in the town. In this paper, a qualitative and quantitative analysis is conducted to understand the underlying causes of waste recycling behavior of the tenants. Results showed that majority of the studied participants perceived themselves to be environmentally friendly. They reported that they recycled household waste quite often, but it was the other tenants who did not sort their waste properly. The respondents identified the causes of the improper waste recycling as lack of attitude and awareness, limitation of communication, sense of insecurity, lack of means to transport bulky waste, limitation of the recycling room, and inadequate action by the housing company Växjöbostäder.", keywords = "Household behavior, multicultural, waste management, waste recycling.", volume = "15", number = "8", pages = "140-5", }
