Influencing Factors on the Household-Waste-Classification Behavior of Urban Residents: A Case Study in Shanghai

Decai Tang, Lei Shi, Xiaojuan Huang, Ziqian Zhao, Biao Zhou and Brandon J. Bethel
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Decai Tang: School of Law and Public Affairs, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing 210044, China
Lei Shi: School of Law and Public Affairs, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing 210044, China
Xiaojuan Huang: School of Business, Jiangsu Open University, Nanjing 210000, China
Ziqian Zhao: China Institute of Manufacturing Development, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing 210044, China
Biao Zhou: School of Foreign Languages, Nangjing University of Finance and Economics, Nanjing 210023, China
Brandon J. Bethel: School of Marine Sciences, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing 210044, China

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 11, 1-16

Abstract: As the process of urbanization in China continues to accelerate, the amount of domestic waste generated correspondingly increases and directly affects the living space of residents. This indirectly implies that to reduce the production of municipal solid waste and the need for garbage disposal and recycling, household-waste-classification activities by the residents are of great significance. Using Shanghai as a case study, this study investigated the influencing factors on residents’ household waste classification by conducting a survey. Statistical analysis was then adopted, which is specified below. First, this study proposed research hypotheses related to the influencing factors of residents’ domestic-waste-sorting behavior from three levels: government, society and individuals. Second, the study designed a questionnaire from five perspectives: individual characteristic variables, government, society, residents and classification behavior. Then, SPSS software was used to carry out descriptive statistical, reliability and validity assessments using ANOVA, correlation and regression analyses on the sample data obtained from the questionnaire. The results suggested that the research hypotheses were statistically significant: (1) females and residents with higher education were more likely to participate in domestic waste classification; (2) reward and punishment measures had the most significant impact on residents’ waste-classification behavior; and (3) publicity and education, classification standards, classification facilities, the recycling system, subjective norms, environmental knowledge and environmental attitudes all had a positive effect on residents’ household waste classification. Finally, based on the results of the empirical analysis, this paper provides reference suggestions for the further development of domestic waste classification in Shanghai.

Keywords: household waste classification; influencing factors; empirical analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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