What Affects Chinese Households’ Behavior in Sorting Solid Waste? A Case Study from Shanghai, Shenyang, and Chengdu

Yanmin He,Hideki Kitagawa,YeeKeong Choy,Xin Kou,Peii Tsai

doi:10.3390/su12218831

Abstract

The main aim of this study was to examine residents’ environmental behavior in sorting solid household waste, and to identify the integrative factors that contribute to their waste-separation cooperation and other related pro-environmental behaviors. This was achieved based on a questionnaire survey in Shenyang, Chengdu, and Shanghai. Methodologically, we applied a discrete choice model to examine whether individuals’ garbage sorting behaviors differ based on their characteristics, social attributes, residential circumstances, and environmental awareness, and whether these factors are correlated with individuals’ receptiveness to a refuse charge system, or to policies requiring garbage sorting. We further examined whether individuals’ garbage sorting behavior, their receptiveness to fee-based waste collection, and their receptiveness to policies requiring garbage sorting differ across areas. In this particular survey, we introduced a 16 item scale of pro-environmental behavior and a nine item scale of altruism to ascertain the ways in which internal motivational factors affect people’s environmentally conscious voluntary behavior. Overall, the present work is expected to contribute to an important understanding of the motivational forces and incentives behind human pro-environmental behavior and action. It also brings relevance to the analysis of moral solidarity in relation to the household waste disposal problems currently confronting us today.

Highlights

Rapid economic growth, urbanization, and the steep growth in the global population and consumption rate have resulted in increased waste production at an unprecedented rate
The result supports the idea that economic measures exert a positive impact on inducing and promoting residents’ garbage sorting behavior
The present study examined residents’ garbage sorting behavior based on a questionnaire survey, and clarified the factors that contribute to their green cooperation and other environmental morality issues in three selected regions, namely, Shanghai, Shenyang (Liaoning Province), and Chengdu (Sichuan Province)

Summary

Introduction

Urbanization, and the steep growth in the global population and consumption rate have resulted in increased waste production at an unprecedented rate. East Asia and Pacific regions currently generate most of the world’s waste, at 23% (468 million tonnes). The fastest growing regions in waste generation are Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, where the total waste generation is expected to more than double by 2050, making up 35% of the world’s waste. The Middle East and North Africa regions are expected to double their waste generation by 2050. Ineffective waste management will cause serious air, soil, and groundwater pollution. This will hamper sustainable urban environment but will threaten the health of residents [1]. It follows that sustainable waste management will be a major challenge for many countries, especially developing countries, in the coming decade

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Conclusion