A study entitled “Behind Recycling Policies: An Exploratory Study on Psychological and Contextual Determinants of Waste Sorting Behaviour at University”, to which Federica Stablum contributed, was recently published in the Italian Economic Journal.
The research analyses the psychological and contextual factors that influence separate waste collection in university environments, an area that has received less attention than household settings but is particularly significant for understanding behaviours adopted in public spaces and workplaces.
Through a questionnaire administered to 482 students and staff members at the University of Florence, the study investigated factors such as individuals’ perceived ability to contribute, personal and social norms, trust in the recycling process, and the barriers encountered when disposing of waste.
The results show that individual motivation alone is not sufficient.
Separate waste collection is encouraged by the belief that one’s actions can have a tangible impact and by a sense of personal responsibility. At the same time, it is hindered by very practical factors: poorly visible containers, collection points that are difficult to reach, unclear instructions, and the absence of certain waste fractions, particularly organic waste and glass.
The measures considered most useful therefore include:
- greater visibility and accessibility of collection stations
- clearer and more immediate instructions
- better information on what happens to waste after collection
- the availability of a wider range of separate waste fractions in the places where waste is generated.
The study confirms the importance of considering behaviour, communication, and spatial design together. To make a collection system effective, it is not enough to ask people to behave correctly: the necessary conditions must be created so that doing so is simple, intuitive, and accessible.
A particularly relevant contribution for those who design services and solutions for separate waste collection.
The study was authored by Federica Stablum, Andrea Piazzoli, Beatrice Conte, Sara Falsini, Barbara Treccani, Leonardo Boncinelli and Enrico Rubaltelli.
Click here to read the study