Trust in municipal government and recycling behavior

Maria Carmela Aprile () and Damiano Fiorillo ()
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Maria Carmela Aprile: University of Naples Parthenope
Damiano Fiorillo: University of Naples Parthenope

Economics of Governance, 2025, vol. 26, issue 4, No 6, 625-650

Abstract: Abstract This paper contributes to the literature on institutional trust by examining the relationship between household waste recycling behavior and two key dimensions of local governance: trust in municipal governments and the perceived quality of the municipal public services. Using data from the Italian National Statistical Office’s Aspects of Daily Life survey (2018–2021), we investigate whether higher levels of trust in local institutions and more positive evaluations of the services provided are associated with greater engagement in recycling practices. We use non-linear regression models and carry out robustness checks to test the consistency of the results. The findings reveal a positive and statistically significant correlation between trust in municipal governments and recycling behavior, whereas trust in other public institutions—such as the European Parliament, the national Parliament, and regional governments—shows no significant association. These associations are more pronounced in Northern Italy compared to Central and Southern Italy, and in the years preceding the COVID-19 pandemic. The perceived quality of the municipal public services also highlights a consistent positive correlation with recycling behavior.

Keywords: Institutional trust; Recycling behavior; Perceived quality of municipal public services; Social and particularized trust; Aspects of daily life; Door-to-door waste collection; Italy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C31 C35 C83 C87 D10 H44 Q57 Z00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1007/s10101-025-00341-3

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