Output details

Nearest neighbour effects in kerbside household waste recycling

Significance of output:

Improving household waste recycling requires the full and effective participation of householders in kerbside recycling schemes. Promotion of recycling behaviour to recover more of the UK’s household waste stream (31.5M tonnes in 2008) needs methods that have proven impacts. Use of “recycling champions” to set an example has been proposed, but evidence of a social interaction amongst householders is lacking. This study established that leading by example is not likely to enhance recycling unless households are in small cu-de-sac blocks where visibility of neighbours’ actions is high. Targeting publicly-funded campaigns to encourage householders’ recycling should ordinarily avoid “recycling champion” approaches.