Sorting Behavior Research Articles

How Does Misperception of Others Affect One's Own Waste Sorting Behavior?—A Study from Chinese Sample

How Does Misperception of Others Affect One's Own Waste Sorting Behavior?—A Study from Chinese Sample

Correction: Bravo et al. The Role of Internet and Social Interactions in Advancing Waste Sorting Behaviors in Rural Communities. Resources 2024, 13, 57

At the request of the authors, Xiaolan Wang and Nihal Ahmed have been removed from the original publication [...]

Perceived Convenience, Social Influence and Household Waste Sorting Behavior of Young Residents: An Empirical Study From a Developing Country

Waste management remains a challenge, especially for developing countries and effective waste separation plays a critical role of reduction in the amount of waste to ensure sustainable development goals. Aiming to investigate the waste sorting behavior of young residents in the second most populous city such as Hanoi, hosting numerous universities and colleges in Vietnam, we conducted an online survey with students from 10 universities in Hanoi via online platform and a sample size of 331 valid responses have been collected. Since we wish to provide insights into young residents’ awareness, knowledge, and behavior about environmental protection and waste separation, the convenience sampling method is employed. The result suggests that five influential factors positively affect young residents’ sorting behavior among which environmental attitude and perceived convenience have a greater impact on young residents’ sorting behavior. The underlying reasons are then discussed to provide policy implications which include environmental science courses as well as regulations on waste sorting at source.

PENANGANAN SAMPAH RUMAH TANGGA DI DESA X KABUPATEN BANDUNG

The community in Village X has not carried out garbage sorting behavior. In addition, garbage collection is carried out once a week which causes waste to accumulate in community settlements and do not have TPS (Temporary Shelters). The aim of the study was to determine waste generation, waste handling at the sorting stage, container, collection, transportation, infrastructure, as well as knowledge and behavior of respondents towards waste handling. This type of research is descriptive. Approach through surveys and observations. A sample of 75 people and 6 houses with a total of 29 people were used as samples for waste generation. The results of measurements of waste generation for 6 houses for 8 days were 0.169 kg/person/day. The sorting stage 47% have done the sorting, 53% did not do the sorting, 47% container met the requirements, 53% did not meet the requirements, collection did not meet the requirements of 100% and transportation did not meet the requirements of 100%. TPS infrastructure 58.4% met the requirements and 41.6% did not meet the requirements. The knowledge level of the respondents was 61 in the good category, 13 in the sufficient category and 1 in the poor category, while the behavior of 39 was in the good category, 12 was in the sufficient category and 22 was in the poor category. Suggestions for managers to conduct outreach about waste handling, increase the schedule for collecting and transporting waste.

Virtual Reality in Waste Management: Evaluating Its Impact on Community Classification Behavior

The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of virtual reality (VR) technology on improving community garbage sorting behavior through a questionnaire survey. Targeting residents of varying ages, educational backgrounds, and lengths of residence in the community, the study utilized VR technology for garbage classification education and behavior guidance. This comprehensive method evaluated improvements in individuals' willingness, cognition, and practices regarding garbage classification. We designed a multi-dimensional questionnaire and employed a random sampling method to select residents who met specific classification criteria as survey subjects. The research involved analyzing the influence of VR technology on enhancing garbage classification cognition across different demographics, exploring how VR can shift attitudes and willingness towards garbage classification, and investigating its role in promoting actual sorting behavior and frequency. Methodologically, we implemented an immersive VR experience that simulated various types of garbage and classification scenarios, followed by preand post-intervention surveys to measure changes in cognition and behavior. Additionally, we examined the interrelationship between VR technology and other influencing factors, such as policy advocacy, educational background, and community environment. The findings indicate that VR technology significantly enhances residents' understanding of garbage classification standards and improves classification accuracy. Furthermore, the visual representation of the negative environmental impacts of garbage, depicted through VR, profoundly heightened residents' environmental awareness and willingness to engage in garbage classification. This study confirms the practical application value and significant impact of VR technology in improving community garbage sorting behavior, providing a scientific basis for its further promotion and application in community waste management practices.

Isoacid supplementation influences feed sorting, chewing behaviors, and enteric methane emissions differentially in mid-lactation dairy cows depending on dietary forage level

Past studies have shown that isoacids (ISO) improve dairy cow performance, with effects varying based on dietary forage levels, leading us to speculate that ISO supplementation may also differentially affect enteric methane (CH4) emissions depending on dietary forage levels. Therefore, our primary objective was to examine the effects of ISO supplementation on enteric CH4 emissions in lactating dairy cows fed 2 forage NDF levels (FL), along with monitoring feed particle sorting and chewing behaviors to assess any potential interactions. Sixty-four (64) mid-lactation Holstein cows were utilized in a 10-wk long randomized complete block design trial. Parity, DIM, and prior milk yield (MY) for multiparous cows or genetic merit for primiparous cows were used as blocking factors. Cows were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 diets (n = 16 per diet) with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatment combinations, including 2 FL, 17 (LF) and 21% forage NDF (HF), without or with ISO supplementation (7.85 mmol/kg DM for isobutyrate and 3.44 mmol/kg DM for 2-methylbutyrate, respectively). Enteric CH4 and chewing activity (rumination and eating time) were measured using the GreenFeed system and sensor-based ear tag system, respectively. The particle size of each diet and ort from individual cows was measured using the Penn State Particle Separator, and a sorting index was calculated. A sorting index of 100 indicates no sorting, while values above or below 100 indicate sorting for or against, respectively. Data were analyzed using a mixed model including FL, ISO, and FL × ISO as fixed effects and block as a random effect (lme4 in R). Our result shows that ISO increased sorting index for long particle in LF (96.1 vs. 109; P < 0.01) but decreased it in HF (100.8 vs. 92.5; P = 0.04). In contrast, ISO did not affect the physically effective particle sorting index (P = 0.51) or intake (P = 0.27) regardless of FL. In alignment with the long particle sorting index, ISO decreased eating and chewing time in the HF but increased them in the LF diet (P < 0.01). In contrast, rumination time was comparable between FL (P = 0.70) and ISO levels (P = 0.19). In the LF diet, ISO supplementation reduced daily CH4 production (g/d) by 9% and intensity (g/kg of MY) by 18% (P < 0.01). In the HF diet, ISO supplementation led to a 10% increase in daily CH4 (P < 0.01) but did not change CH4 intensity (P = 0.17; g/kg of MY) due to improved milk production. Overall, ISO altered feed sorting, feeding behaviors and enteric CH4 emissions depending on FL.

Carbon footprint impact of waste sorting on the municipal household waste treatment system: A community case study of Hangzhou

Considering the pressing need to reduce carbon emissions, the environmental impacts of waste sorting and its influencing factors remain unverified across many practical scenarios. This study focused on separating perishable and residual waste in a community in Hangzhou, China, examining how waste sorting behavior affects the carbon footprint of subsequent waste treatment systems through a randomized tracking survey and life cycle assessment (LCA) method. The results indicated that the sorted waste treatment system could achieve net carbon emissions ranging from −139.92 to −254.03 kg CO2 eq per day by integrating the anaerobic digestion of sorted perishable waste with the incineration of residual waste. In comparison to the conventional mixed incineration system, which had net carbon emissions between −56.37 and −115.46 kg CO2 eq per day and generated 383 kWh/t of power, the carbon reduction benefits of the sorted system were considerably greater, by a factor of 2.2–2.5. Additionally, the average amount of recovered electrical energy (993 kWh/t) was also higher by a factor of 2.6. Therefore, source separation of waste significantly enhances energy recovery and carbon reduction in household waste treatment systems. In this research system, incineration power generation and oil recovery serve as the primary units for reducing carbon emissions, and the proportion of residual waste generated greatly influences the total carbon emissions of the sorted waste treatment system (p < 0.05). Consequently, increasing the percentage of classified residual waste and optimizing machine efficiency will increase the carbon reduction benefits of waste sorting and treatment systems. These findings provide crucial references and guidance for advancing carbon reduction and waste classification in municipal solid waste (MSW) management systems.

How to go green? Exploring public attention and sentiment towards waste sorting behaviors on Weibo platform: A study based on text co-occurrence networks and deep learning

The attention and sentiment of the public are crucial for better implementation of waste sorting behaviors and moving towards green living. In this study, web scraping technology was used to collect 367,856 Weibo posts related to waste sorting from Sina Weibo. Utilizing text co-occurrence networks, Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) topic modeling, and a deep learning model combining the Affective Cognitive Model (OCC) with Long Short-Term Memory Model (LSTM) (referred to as OCC-LSTM), we comprehensively understand the text at both micro and macro levels, analyzing the attention and sentiment of the public towards waste sorting behaviors on the Sina Weibo platform. Several important findings emerged from the empirical results. First, highly engaging posts were predominantly published by users with a large following, and the number of posts fluctuated over time. This reflects the influence of social hot topics and the timeliness of information dissemination. Second, there was heterogeneity in the user groups and their locations, often influenced by cultural differences due to geographical location. Third, positive sentiment towards waste sorting behavior was higher than negative sentiment on the Weibo platform. Moreover, public attention varied under different emotional influences concerning the topic of waste sorting behavior. The innovation of this study lies in the development of a research framework combining co-occurrence networks and deep learning, expanding the analysis on both micro and macro levels. This framework broadens the research paradigms and dimensions of public perception in waste sorting. This study is significant for promoting waste sorting behaviors and implementing climate policies.

To sort or not to sort? – Consumers’ waste behavior in public

While waste sorting in private households is considered a social norm, we still lack knowledge about individuals' waste sorting behavior in public, such as on the street, in parks or on public transport. Research on public spaces has primarily focused on littering, drawing the spotlight away from the valuable materials lost due to a lack of public waste sorting. Employing social practice theory, we conducted interviews with consumers and cleaners, observed practices, documented waste bins, and engaged with stakeholders to describe the role of materials, competencies, and ideas for performing waste sorting in public. Key findings include individuals’ use of cognitive maps to locate residual waste bins, revealing paradoxes of public waste bin designs, and a lack of responsibility for waste sorting (e.g., individuals arguing that machines can perform this task more efficiently). Bridging this knowledge gap is vital to develop targeted strategies that encourage responsible waste practices.

Driving Green: Waste Sorting and Circular Economy in Rural China

ABSTRACT In today’s world, information plays a critical role in shaping individual behaviors toward the environment. Drawing on the externality theory, this study examined how information sources influence rural residents’ willingness and behaviors toward domestic waste sorting in three cities of Jiangsu Province, China. Using survey data from 1,058 rural residents in the Taihu Lake Basin, we demonstrate that information sources significantly promote waste sorting behaviors by reducing information asymmetry. This, in turn, reduces domestic waste and increases recycling and resource recovery, all of which are central to a circular economy. Moreover, we found a substitution effect between official and unofficial sources of information. Further heterogeneity analysis revealed that only authorized information from the government significantly contributes to waste sorting behaviors among rural residents, especially among those who doubt its environmental benefits. These findings underscore the importance of leveraging information tools to guide green behavior and promote a truly circular economic system.

The Role of Information in Enhancing Waste Sorting Capability among Consumers in Lao Cai City, Vietnam

Waste sorting at the source has been identified as a crucial solution for sustainable waste management in developing countries like Vietnam. Numerous previous studies have investigated the factors influencing waste sorting behavior among consumers. However, there has been limited research on consumers’ capability in waste sorting at source, particularly the role of information. Without sufficient consumer capability in waste sorting, contamination continues to be a widespread problem, posing a challenge to the sustainability of such programs. A survey using the ASK (Attitude-Skill-Knowledge) model was conducted with 228 participants in Lao Cai city, Vietnam, to assess how information enhances consumer capability in waste sorting. This study indicated that: (1) Both information quality and information accessibility could affect overall consumer capability toward waste sorting at the source; (2) Information accessibility is important in determining all ASK component, while interestingly, information quality plays an important role in determining consumers’ attitudes toward waste sorting at the source. The study suggested some solutions for enhancing consumer capability in waste sorting program, including engaging all stakeholders, leveraging technology, educational campaigns, and regular updates on waste sorting at the source information.

The current situation and strategies for cultivating college students' waste sorting behaviors through interactive media intervention

The current situation and strategies for cultivating college students' waste sorting behaviors through interactive media intervention

FRICTIONAL SORTING: THE IMPACTS OF DUAL CONSTRAINTS ON MOBILITY AND HOUSING SUPPLY IN CHINA

AbstractUsing an equilibrium sorting model and microdata from China, we evaluate the impacts of dual constraints on mobility and housing supply on workers’ sorting behavior, quantifying the welfare and distributional consequences. Counterfactual simulations show that lowering migration costs associated with institutional restrictions and migrant‐specific amenities would increase welfare and reduce inequality by moving workers from inland to coastal regions in China. These impacts depend on the housing supply elasticity in coastal regions. Similarly, the impacts of relaxing housing supply restrictions depend on mobility constraints. Results highlight the policy complementarities between reducing the two kinds of frictions.

Scenario analysis tool for estimating future waste composition and amounts toward a circular economy

Municipal solid waste management has a potential to increase circularity by reduction of virgin material extraction and use of secondary materials. A scenario analysis tool was developed to assess whether circular economy goals are attainable with the existing infrastructure and technologies by calculating sorting and recycling rates using waste amount and composition estimations. Three scenarios, Current Road (business as usual), Circular Road (improved sorting) and Frugal Road (waste reduction), were developed and implemented. Sorting rates targets for food waste are achieved in all scenarios. For plastic, sorting rate targets are achieved only for Circular and Frugal, while European Union recycling targets are not reached in any, showing the important role of recycling efficiency. Policy makers can use the scenario development approach of this study to evaluate if circular economy goals are attainable with the current system and assess the impact of key factors such as waste generation and sorting behavior. The scenario analysis tool can be utilized to simulate the effects of different measures in the waste amounts and composition, which is crucial for the planning of the future management system. Further, sorting and recycling rates provide quantitative information about the circularity gap and qualitative information on bottlenecks and opportunities.

Incorporating decentralized facilities into the food waste treatment infrastructure in Megacity: A locational optimization in Beijing

Food waste management has emerged as a pivotal issue with the acceleration of urbanization. Inappropriate treatment of food waste causes environmental contamination, resource squandering, and land occupation. This research explores optimal strategies in Beijing with an experimental case study on the bioconversion technology using black soldier fly larvae (BSFL), comparing centralized and decentralized approaches. We studied waste sorting behaviors influenced by community characteristics, employing an Agent-Based Model (ABM) and a mixed integer non-linear programming (MINLP). Results indicate that 29 % of Beijing's food waste could be suitably managed through decentralized methods with BSFL, particularly in outlying areas and densely populated suburbs. Decentralized treatment exhibits the potential to boost waste separation participation in medium-sized, close- knit communities. However, this approach encounters hurdles related to technological implementation, public perception, and urban planning. This study underscores the need for community-specific strategies and a concerted effort from communities, government, and the private sector in advancing sustainable urban food waste management.

Factors Affecting Waste Recycling Habits in Latvia - Results From an Online Survey

While waste sorting is compulsory within the European Union, not all households in Latvia have the access to the waste sorting bins nor wish to recycle their household waste even if the bins are available. Despite the fact that several surveys have been conducted concluding that the recycling rates in Latvia are improving with every year, it is still not clear what are the factors that determine waste sorting and sustainable consumption habits in Latvia. Therefore, the goal of this study was to identify factors that could be seen as predeterminants for waste sorting and sustainable consumption habits among the citizens of Latvia. Prior to the survey, an extensive literature search was made to identify and understand what are the most prominent socio-demographic and other factors that could affect waste sorting, plastic consumption, or sustainable behaviour habits. Literature findings revealed a heterogeneity of factors that could not be fully attributed nor classified based on the region of the country, some cultural aspects, the customs, or specific socio-demographic factors, indicating that the sustainable behaviour was mostly country -specific, and, therefore, could not be generalised to all the countries. Based on these findings an online survey was made. It was conducted for a one month period between the end of January and the end of February 2024. The data from different age groups of citizens of Latvia were collected. The results of the survey should shed a light on the factors that could be seen as determinants for waste sorting and sustainable consumption habits (or lack of them) among the inhabitants of Latvia. These results could help to develop better communication strategies based on the survey results to help to improve recycling indicators in Latvia.

Deliberately ignoring inequality to avoid rejecting unfair offers

Why do people punish experienced unfairness if it induces costs for both the punisher and punished person(s) without any direct material benefits for the punisher? Economic theories of fairness propose that punishers experience disutility from disadvantageous inequality and punish in order to establish equality in outcomes. We tested these theories in a modified Ultimatum Game (N = 1370) by examining whether people avoid the urge to reject unfair offers, and thereby punish the proposer, by deliberately blinding themselves to unfairness. We found that 53% of participants deliberately ignored whether they had received an unfair offer. Among these participants, only 6% of offers were rejected. As expected, participants who actively sought information rejected significantly more unfair offers (39%). Averaging these rejection rates to 21%, no significant difference to the rejection rate by participants who were directly informed about unfairness was found, contrary to our hypothesis. We interpret these findings as evidence for sorting behavior: People who punish experienced unfairness seek information about it, while those who do not punish deliberately ignore it.

PUBLICITY, FACILITIES DIVERSITY AND WILLINGNESS TO PAY FOR HOUSEHOLD WASTE SORTING: NEW EVIDENCE FROM HETEROGENEITY REGRESSION

Household waste sorting is important to actively promote the construction of beautiful countryside and beautiful city via household waste reduction or recycling. The Law of China on the Prevention and Control of Solid Waste Environmental Pollution indicates that household waste treatment fee system follows the principle of “who produces, who pays”, reflecting differentiated management such as classified pricing and metering fees. This research mainly investigates the determinants of willingness to pay (WTP) for household waste sorting in China. This study mainly compares different effects of the waste sorting information publicity, waste sorting facilities diversity, perceived convenience and reference group behavior on WTP via multiple and logistic regression. It also explores gender and regional heterogeneity for WTP of household waste sorting in China. This study also analyzes how individuals respond to different levels of WTP fees of household waste sorting via logistic regression. The empirical results reveal that the facilities diversity of waste sorting has the highest effect on WTP for household waste sorting, followed by perceived convenience, publicity and reference group behaviors. Females have relatively lower WTP than males. Education has significant positive effects on males’ waste sorting WTP. In logistic regression, reference group has larger effect on WTP compared with other antecedents. It is important to enhance facilities and publicity of household waste sorting. This research is of great significance to increase the household waste sorting behavior, enhance the governance system of household waste sorting via the collaboration of government, medias, communities and individuals.

Understanding food waste sorting behavior in institutional food services: An integrated psychological framework

Food waste from institutional food services accounts for a significant part of global food waste. Food waste sorting (FWS) at the source reduces waste management costs and environmental impacts in organizations. Yet what drives individual FWS behavior remains underexplored. This study explores the psychological process of FWS in institutional catering environments, integrating the value-belief-norm model, the theory of planned behavior, and self-determination theory. Data were collected from 431 university students in China and analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Results indicated the interplay of values, beliefs, norms, and motivations in shaping FWS behaviors. Social value orientations (SVO) indirectly affected FWS through awareness of consequences and personal norms. Subjective norms, potentially attributed to external regulations in canteens, influenced FWS intention through personal norms and induced FWS primarily via controlled motivations. The findings imply that behavioral strategies to induce FWS may leverage social influence and external regulation while also translating values and knowledge into intrinsic motivations through educational programs and awareness campaigns.

Research on the influence mechanism of residents’ waste sorting behavior: based on extended theory of planned behavior

Research on the influence mechanism of residents’ waste sorting behavior: based on extended theory of planned behavior