Improving Social Acceptance of Waste-to-Energy Incinerators in China: Role of Place Attachment, Trust, and Fairness

Guanghui Hou, Tong Chen, Ke Ma, Zhiming Liao, Hongmei Xia and Tianzeng Yao
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Guanghui Hou: College of Management and Economics, Tianjin University, No. 92, Weijin Road, Nankai District, Tianjin 300072, China
Tong Chen: College of Management and Economics, Tianjin University, No. 92, Weijin Road, Nankai District, Tianjin 300072, China
Ke Ma: BNU Business school of Beijing Normal University, No. 19, XinJieKouWai St., HaiDian District, Beijing 100875, China
Zhiming Liao: College of Management and Economics, Tianjin University, No. 92, Weijin Road, Nankai District, Tianjin 300072, China
Hongmei Xia: College of Management and Economics, Tianjin University, No. 92, Weijin Road, Nankai District, Tianjin 300072, China
Tianzeng Yao: College of Management and Economics, Tianjin University, No. 92, Weijin Road, Nankai District, Tianjin 300072, China

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 6, 1-22

Abstract: Globally, acceptance among the general public of waste-to-energy (WtE) incinerators is a crucial factor in implementing national waste-to-energy policies. This study aims to shed light on the acceptance of WtE incinerators, with a focus on anti-incinerator sentiment and the influence and interactions of place-, trust-, and fairness-based factors, with a case study in China. A total of 338 residents in the Asuwei area in North Beijing completed a survey on a proposed WtE incinerator in the vicinity. Hierarchical regression analyses indicate that place attachment positively enhances anti-incinerator sentiment through direct effects, as well as moderation and mediation effects between risk perception and opposing willingness. Furthermore, institutional trust negatively moderates the impact of perceived risk on anti-incinerator sentiment, in addition to directly reducing perceived risk. Trust also influences anti-incinerator sentiment via risk perception, attesting to the effectiveness of a casual model of trust. Likewise, fairness perception acts as another determinant of opposing sentiment, similarly to trust. These findings demonstrate the importance of using a range of instrumental and more effective strategies to promote the acceptance of renewable energy infrastructure.

Keywords: social acceptance; anti-incinerator sentiment; place attachment; trust; fairness; waste-to-energy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

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