Barriers and Enablers to Food Waste Recycling: A Mixed Methods Study amongst UK Citizens.

Ayşe Lisa Allison,Fabiana Lorencatto,Mark Miodownik,Susan Michie

doi:10.3390/ijerph19052729

Ayşe Lisa Allison, Fabiana Lorencatto + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19052729

Copy DOI

Abstract

We aim to identify influences on UK citizens’ household food waste recycling as a basis for designing strategies to increase household food waste collection rates via local services. Using a UK dataset (n = 1801) and the COM-B (Capability–Opportunity–Motivation–Behaviour) model as a theoretical framework, we conduct quantitative regression and supporting thematic analyses to investigate influences on citizens’ recycling of food waste. Results show that automatic motivation (e.g., emotions and habit) and psychological capability (e.g., knowledge) predict household food waste recycling. Physical opportunity (i.e., dealing with food waste in other ways such as home-composting or feeding pets/strays, time and financial costs) was the main barrier to recycling food waste identified in thematic analyses. Participants also reported automatic motivation-related barriers such as concerns over pests, odour, hygiene and local authorities’ food waste collection capabilities. Based on findings we recommend the development of clear, consistent communications aimed at creating positive social norms relating to recycling and increasing knowledge of what can and cannot be put in food waste bins. Improved functional design and free distribution of bins and compostable caddy liners developed according to user-centred needs for cleanliness, convenience and hygiene are also needed. These will not be sufficient without a nationally uniform, efficient and reliable system of household food waste collection.

Highlights

This study aimed to identify influences on food waste recycling amongst UK citizens; the reasons why citizens with access to food waste collection services do not recycle food waste; the reasons why citizens who do recycle do not use compostable caddy liners, and; the reasons why citizens feel unprepared for UK-wide food waste collection services
Physical opportunity was the main barrier to recycling food waste identified in qualitative analyses
In terms of intervention design, our results suggest that strategies increasing citizen’s automatic motivation and psychological capability are likely to be effective at getting citizens to separate their food waste

Summary

Introduction

Landfill and incineration are two of the least environmentally-friendly methods of processing food waste owing to excess production of potent greenhouse gases, e.g., carbon dioxide (CO2 ) and methane (CH4 ) [1–4]. Diverting food waste from incineration and landfill is, critical for sustainability efforts. Successful food waste recycling, relies on high rates of food waste collection by local authorities [8]. This, in turn, relies on citizens correctly segregating their food waste for collection. Several different systems for collecting food waste were implemented across Europe. There are highly efficient systems based on source separation of food in Austria, Slovenia, Belgium and Germany where the bio-waste capture rate

Objectives

Results

Discussion

Conclusion