A Symbiosis Framework in Understanding Reverse Logistics in Solid Waste

Abstract

The objective of this study is to investigate the relationship between the sustainability and effectiveness of household recycling systems and household recycling behavior, to reveal how factors associated with household recycling systems affect household recycling behaviour, and how household recycling behavior affect the provision of household recycling systems by the local authorities.The main objective is to reveal and explain the interaction and symbiosis. Case studies were undertaken with staff and residents in two UK local authorities (LAs): the East Riding of Yorkshire and the City of Hull.Empirical data were gathered using mixed-methodology approach. The first approach is a qualitative research stage supported the symbiosis effect between the LAs and the householders. The second approach is quantitative research stage employed multiple regression analysis that juxtaposed the existence of interactions (symbiosis) between personal factors and situational factors which the representation of LAs and the householders respectively.This study has found that a ‘symbiosis effect’ perspective appears to be a robust framework to bring together effective household waste recycling systems and sustainable development considerations to enhance both sustainability and the economy.Householders and local authorities are behaving “symbiotically” where one local authority provides a reverse logistics provision, notwithstanding, the householders follow the recycling requirement which eventually creating a mutual interdependency between these two main actors in providing a sustainable solid waste management.