Research on the Driving Mechanism of Waste Separation Behavior: Based on Qualitative Analysis of Chinese Urban Residents

Feiyu Chen, Hong Chen, Meifen Wu, Shanshan Li and Ruyin Long
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Feiyu Chen: School of Management, China University of Mining and Technology, Da Xue Road 1, Xuzhou 221116, China
Hong Chen: School of Management, China University of Mining and Technology, Da Xue Road 1, Xuzhou 221116, China
Meifen Wu: School of Management, China University of Mining and Technology, Da Xue Road 1, Xuzhou 221116, China
Shanshan Li: School of Management, China University of Mining and Technology, Da Xue Road 1, Xuzhou 221116, China
Ruyin Long: School of Management, China University of Mining and Technology, Da Xue Road 1, Xuzhou 221116, China

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 10, 1-19

Abstract: Waste source separation is the fundamental premise to ensure effective waste recycling. Whether the entire waste recycling and reduction process can be effectively carried out depends on the waste source separation. Clarifying the driving mechanism of waste separation behavior plays an important role in effectively guiding the urban residents’ waste separation behavior and achieving waste recycling. In this study, qualitative analysis was used to explore the driving mechanism of waste separation behavior. Through the open coding, axial coding and selective coding of the in-depth interview data collected from 323 Chinese urban residents, the study has proposed and verified the four-dimensional structure of waste separation behavior, namely, waste separation behavior of habit, decision, relationship, and citizen. The main driving factors of urban residents’ waste separation behavior have been clarified. On this basis, a theoretical model for the driving mechanism of waste separation behavior was constructed in this study. Ten main categories of factors have been presented, namely, value orientation, cognition of separation, regulatory focus, preferences for comfort, perception of separation empowerment, policy and standards, products and facilities, group norms, links trustworthiness, and social demography variables. Moreover, four typical relationship structures were proposed. Finally, the intervention policy suggestions were made to effectively guide the urban residents’ waste separation behavior.

Keywords: waste separation behavior; driving mechanism; qualitative analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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