The Attitudinal Differences in Source Separation and Waste Reduction between the General Public and the Housewives in Hong Kong

Abstract

As in most Western communities, source separation of household waste has gained popularity among the general public in Hong Kong. Despite an increasing number of married women involved in full time paid work, women are most involved in waste management in most Hong Kong families. Thus, the attitude of this social group—housewives—is decisive in the success of the source separation of household waste and other recycling related activities. Attitudinal differences between housewives and the general public were found with respect to the amount of avoidable waste, the incentive level of waste collection charges, the acceptable level of a green premium, the support of source separation of household waste and a deposit–refund system on beverage containers and cell batteries. Although housewives were also found to support waste recycling and reduction, the intensity of support was more modest in general than in the rest of the Hong Kong population, with the exception of the deposit–refund scheme for beverage containers. At the same time, economic incentive is a more powerful drive for housewives than for the general public at large for enhancing waste recycling and reduction.