The Moderating Effect of Perceived Policy Effectiveness in Residents’ Waste Classification Intentions: A Study of Bengbu, China

Xin Shen, Bowei Chen, Markus Leibrecht and Huanzheng Du
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Xin Shen: College of Economics and Management, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
Bowei Chen: College of Economics and Management, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
Markus Leibrecht: College of Economics and Management, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
Huanzheng Du: Institute of Circular Economics, Tongji University, Shanghai 200070, China

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 2, 1-12

Abstract: The Chinese government is promoting a waste classification policy to solve the increasingly serious issue of cities being besieged by waste. Only few studies investigate whether residents’ understanding of garbage classification policy has an impact on their garbage classification behaviour and the nature of such impact. The purposes of this study are twofold: first, to explore conceptually the mechanism behind any moderating effects of perceived policy effectiveness (PPE) on waste classification and, second, to examine empirically if and how PPE influences the relationships between attitude (ATT), subjective norm (SN), perceived behaviour control (PBC), awareness of consequence (AC) and waste classification intention (WCI). The conceptual model of the study is developed by combining insights from the theory of planned behaviour, norm activation theory and value–belief–norm theory. A total of 351 questionnaires were administered in person to households in Bengbu, China. The results based on structural equation modelling with partial least squares show that PPE negatively moderates the relationship between AC and WCI. AC is more strongly related with the intention to classify waste when PPE is weaker. Likewise, when PPE is higher, people’s awareness of consequences becomes less important for WCI. The findings have significant implications in policymakers’ developing guidelines and offer a framework for implementing more effective waste classification policy.

Keywords: environmental pollution; waste classification intention; theory of planned behaviour; awareness of consequences; perceived policy effectiveness; China (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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