A meta-analysis of factors related to recycling. (August 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Geiger, Josefine L.; Steg, Linda; van der Werff, Ellen; Ünal, A. Berfu
• Is Part Of: Journal of environmental psychology. Volume 64(2019)
• Page Start: 78
• Page End: 97
• Publication Date: 2019-08
• Subjects: Recycling -- meta-Analysis -- Individual factors -- Contextual factors -- Self-identity -- Attitudes; Environmental psychology -- Periodicals; Environment -- Periodicals; Psychology -- Periodicals; 155.905
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvp.2019.05.004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0272-4944

Abstract

Abstract: The current meta-analysis aimed to identify the most important factors related to recycling across studies. A random-effects meta-analysis of studies on individual and household recycling (n = 91) revealed that both individual and contextual factors are related to recycling. Among individual factors, behaviour-specific factors (i.e., recycling self-identity, personal norms towards recycling, past recycling, and perceived behavioural control over recycling) were better predictors of recycling than general factors (i.e., general knowledge, general attitudes, general personal norm). Among contextual factors, the possession of a bin at home and house ownership were particularly predictive of recycling. Moreover, individual and contextual factors better predicted intention to recycle than self-reported recycling behaviour, and particularly than observed recycling behaviour. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of our findings. We indicate that future studies could more systematically examine the effects of contextual factors on recycling, as well as the interplay of individual and contextual factors. Highlights: Both individual and contextual factors predict recycling behaviour. Behaviour-specific factors generally predict recycling behaviour better than general factors. Intention is generally better predicted than self-reported, and particularly observed recycling. Only few studies systematically examined effects of contextual factors.