Recycling Behavior Case of Shkodra, Albania

Abstract

Purpose: Urban Waste management has become a very important problem in our country. The purpose of this paper is to investigate and study recycling behavior and determine the factors/variables that influence it.
  
 Method: Quantitative methodologies are used for this study using the questionnaire as an instrument. Various authors used the grouping of three variables of the study; situational variables, psychological variables, and environmental values. A questionnaire was created and administered in order to gather data in accordance with the literature review. A final sample of 401 people from the city of Shkodra made up the study's population. In response to the research topic, several hypotheses were created. The analysis was done using SPSS to empirically test the hypotheses.
  
 Results: Reduction and reuse are the most effective ways to conserve natural resources, protect the environment, and save money. The more people know about recycling and start changing their behavior, the more they will benefit from waste reduction opportunities. Most individuals perceive the environment in which they live and the positive effects that come from the three Rs as very important, but unfortunately, very few of them take action. Situational variables, which are variables that involve the personal circumstances of individuals at a given point in time, influence recycling behavior. Environmental value does not affect the recycling behavior of individuals but psychological variables affect recycling behavior.
  
 Contribution/implications: This project is only a small part of what we all should do for the environment. The sample restricted us from a more detailed study of this behavior, but it was used as a subgroup of the population that we want to generalize. Responsible institutions must pay more attention to the policy of waste management.