Time spent on separating waste is never wasted: Fostering people's recycling behavior through the use of a mobile application

Abstract

The current study investigates 1) whether using a recycling app can stimulate recycling behavior and 2) which behavioral model best explains whether people use a recycling app (comparing the Theory of Planned Behavior and the Technology Acceptance Model). A within-subjects experiment was conducted (N = 118) in which a baseline week of recycling was compared with an intervention week (in which participants used a recycling app). Experience sampling methodology (ESM) was used to assess daily recycling behavior. The results showed that using a recycling app increased recycling behavior. Furthermore, the results showed that both TPB and TAM were suitable to explain recycling app use intentions, but not actual app use. This research provides practical implications by adding insights on how to stimulate app use, and ultimately, recycling behavior. Furthermore, the findings have important theoretical implications because they enhance our understanding of app use for environmental behavior change.