Surveying the Influence of Scientific

Information on U of I Students Recycling

Behaviors
By: Zach Hull and Brendan McConnor
University of Idaho College of Natural Resources
Introduction
Results

Reported Increase In Disposition to Recycle

Attitude Towards The Behavior

There is a lack of information regarding the issue of why and whether or not people
recycle paper. More specifically, if and why young adults studying at the University of
Idaho recycle. We are curious to understand how many students participate in waste
reduction activities, specifically related to paper. There is not a lot of scientific
literature on the influence science has on recycling behavior.
We are investigating whether it is scientific evidence, awareness or social pressures
that get people to recycle. The reason we are curious to understand this relationship,
is because increasing populations and lack of resources will likely lead to increased
consumption, waste. Understanding these influences can lead to successful ideas and
campaigns advocating for recycling and waste management.

Methods

I Recycle Because...

I Do Not Recycle Because...

It reduces the effects of climate change

The evidence in support of recycling is not conclusive

Recycling saves me money

It is too much effect to recycle my household waste

Not recycling goes against my principles

50%

100%

0% 20% 40% 60%

The county/City picks up my

recycling

-2

-1.5

Disagree

-1

-0.5

Somewhat Disagree

0.5

1.5

Somewhat Agree

2
Agree

We found out that University of Idaho students know what to recycle and where to
take their recycling, and that, for the most part, they trust scientific information,
however, half of the people that took our survey stated that the reason they
dont recycle is because it takes too much effort.
Since individuals wont automatically set up their own recycling system at home,
there is a need for easier means of recycling residential waste, because many
respondents claim the city/county does not pick up their recycling, which is up to the
land lord in many cases for college students. From our results, we have shown a
response to scientific information, thus a need for easier means of
recycling. Our suggestion to do so, is to offer incentives and consequences for our
waste reducing and waste creating behaviors. We also advocate for single stream
recycling system

Scientific Information influences

my behaviors.
I grew up with recycling in my
hometown community.
I agree with the recycling
policy of my hometown.

We observed a 24% decrease in disposition to recycle glass between the

different surveys, and a 30% decrease with paper.

I look up to people who

recycle their household
waste.

Survey Approach

-2

-1.5

Disagree

-1

-0.5

Somewhat Disagree

0.5

1.5

Somewhat Agree

2
Agree

Acknowledgments

Bert Baumgartner (Advisor)

Jackie Maximillian (Instructor)
Sandye Crooks (Education outreach Coordinator @ Latah Sanitation, INC.
Moscow Recycling)
Donnie Ely (Plant Manager Clear Water Paper Corporation)

References

Trust in Our Scientific Information

I am confident that I can trust the
information.

Tonglet, Phillips, Read, M. (2004). Using the Theory of Planned Behavior to investigate the
determinants of recycling behavior: A case study from Brixworth, UK. Resource, Conservation, and
Recycling, 41(3), 191-2014. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/
S0921344903001629

I am confident that I can trust

the information provided on
paper.

Ajzen, I. (n.d.). Download PDFs. Retrieved December 11, 2014, from

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/074959789190020T
-2

The materials we listed are aluminum, tin, paper, plastic, glass. By using follow
up questions we were able gauge the confidence & trust people have in scientific
information.

Glass

Conclusion

Subjective Norms

We began by asking questions relating to each factor. Then, to better understand the
influence scientific information has on recycling behaviors, we intervene with
information regarding the efficiency of recycling different materials. The information
we presented showed varying efficiencies in recycling of these materials, meaning,
evaluations spoke in favor of recycling most materials, with the exception of paper and
glass, which showed a possible inefficiency, leading to a possibly predictable change in
response, or lack of, depending on the respondent. We had a separate survey that was
given to half of our participants, in which the information advocated for recycling of all
materials. This was done to help prove whether or not participants were basing theyre
responses on the information we provided.

Plastic

We found that due to the length of our survey, which took participants on average
about 7 minutes to complete, handing it out was difficult to do. Undergraduate
classes were where most of our surveys were handed out. Fifty minutes is a valuable
amount of time to professors, and approaching people between classes or in the
library was difficult due to the burden we were placing on possible participants.
Future surveys would be done electronically and sent out to as many students as
possible; streamlining the data collection. It should be remembered that stated
change in behavior is not representative of an individuals actual behavior.

Behavioral Controls

(Ajzen 1991)

Perceived Behavioral Controls - Perceived behavioral controls represents the

persons known opportunities, or the amount of effort it takes an individual to perform
a behavior.

Paper

Limitations

Recycling is a waste of time

The knowledge I have of the recycling process

I know what items of

household waste can be
recycled.

Subjective norms - Subjective norms refer to the influence of social pressures on

individuals to perform a behavior. These are social pressures that an individual takes
into account and are usually a person or group of people that the person admire and/or
trust.

Tin

There is no personal benefit

I know where to take my

household waste for recycling.

Attitudes Towards Recycling Behaviors - Attitudes an individual feels towards a behavior.

Aluminum

**Confidence level of 90% with an interval of (+-) 2%**

Recyling is environmentaly responsible

0%

We used the Theory of Planned Behaviors or TPB, which is a systematical model that
can be applied in measuring and understanding the underlying causes behind certain
behaviors (Ajzen 1991). A college student chooses to recycle based on the variables of
their situational opportunities, attitudes towards science, environment, and social
pressures. The TPB uses these three factors, (attitude, subjective norms, perceived
behavioral control) to calculate the perceived intentions of persons behaviors.

80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%

Servey
One

Disagree

-1.5

-1

-0.5

Somewhat Disagree

0.5

Somewhat Agree

1.5

2
Agree

Myers, D. (2008). Behavior and Attitudes. In Social psychology (9th ed., pp. 120-128). Boston: McGrawHill.
Theory of Planned Behavior/ Reasoned Action. (n.d.). Retrieved December 10, 2014, from
http://www.utwente.nl/cw/theorieenoverzicht/theory clusters/health
communication/theory_planned_behavior/