The Effect of the Evaluation of Trash Can Removal Policy under the “Compulsory Times” of Waste-Sorting in Longhua District in China

Abstract

In China, waste sorting has gradually entered “compulsory times”. The beginning of the compulsory times of waste sorting is marked by the implementation of the policy to remove trash cans in residential building hallways. Since then, this policy has been controversial. Based on the theory of planned behavior and the public’s perspective as well as using the Delphi method and entropy weight method, we investigated Longhua District in Shenzhen and designed an evaluation index system for the effect of the policy to remove trash cans from the following three dimensions: the policy cognitive level, the policy admissive degree, and the awareness of waste sorting. The data were supplemented by observations and interview methods as well as questionnaire surveys that were distributed in residential sub-districts in Longhua District. According to the quantitative research and variance analysis of the data, the policy promotes waste sorting. This paper provides a new idea on how to evaluate environmental policies such as the garbage-classification policy from the perspective of the public based on rigorous evaluation methods and processes.