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Abstract
Due to growing pressure to meet recycling targets set by the UK central government, it is becoming increasingly important for local authorities to understand the characteristics of recycling behaviour and the factors that influence them. The demographic, situational and psychological factors that influence recycling behaviour were drawn from existing empirical research studies and used to create an on-line survey of university students in Oxford. Students' recycling behaviour was influenced by situational variables such as provision of a domestic recycling box and the recycling behaviour of family and friends, whereas the student's reported willingness to minimise waste was linked to psychological variables such as environmental concern. These fundamental differences in the behavioural characteristics of waste minimisation, compared with recycling, demonstrate the importance for local authorities to identify which types of behaviour they wish to encourage. The authors recommend strategies for local authorities to facilitate waste minimisation and increase recycling.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank all the students who took the time to answer the survey and the staff at both universities who helped to circulate it. Thanks also go to Dr Mark Burgess and two anonymous referees for comments on an earlier draft.