Waste classification and recycling behaviours of urban residents are important for waste recovery, reduction, and decontamination. Because residents' waste classification and recycling behaviours are influenced by several factors, this study developed a new waste classification and recycling influencing factor model. Based on 424 questionnaires collected from Shanghai residents, the influences of internal recycling competencies (i.e., waste classification skills and habits) and external environmental conditions (i.e., classification facilities and systems, reward and penalty measures for classification, and failure to safeguard classification achievements) on residents' classification and recycling behaviours were empirically tested. It was found that residents' classification and recycling skills and habits as well as government reward and penalty measures for classification had a significant positive effect on the residents' classification and recycling behaviours(0.159,p