published_or_final_version / Environmental Management / Master / Master of Science in Environmental Management

A research report submitted to the School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies in Partial Fulfillment for the Master‘s Degree in Science University of the Witwatersrand. Johannesburg, 5 June 2017. / With consumer culture that encourages societies to buy more, waste production increases as well. A lack of site specific data regarding waste conceptualisations and practices inhibits sustainable waste initiatives such as separation at source programmes from being successful and results in poor participation levels. This research report investigates these issues through a case study of Elizabeth Fry Village (EFV) in Vorna Valley, Midrand, particularly focusing on a Separation at Source programme in Elizabeth Fry Village. This research was conducted over a 6 month period between September 2016 and March 2017. There are two approaches within the broad debate around waste that this research engages with. The first is the approach presented by Moore (2012), Gutberlet (2013), Oteng-Ababio (2014) and Parizeau (2015) who argue that the different ways that people understand and conceptualise waste influences their waste practices, including participation in recycling programmes. The second approach focuses on the practical factors that affect participation in recycling programmes (Tonglet et al., 2004 and Martin et al., 2006). Based on mixed methods including participant observation, interviews, desktop studies and a waste composition study conducted in Elizabeth Fry Village, this research report argues that it is necessary to combine both approaches to develop a comprehensive understanding of people‘s participation or lack thereof in recycling programmes such as separation at source (S@S). It is recommended that future research explores mechanisms for the better use of putrescible waste and that aspects such as convenience, time, space, knowledge and awareness are further investigated to increase participation rates in the area. Another major aspect identified for future research is exploring how to shift people‘s conceptualision of waste to recognise it as a positive material. Keywords: Recycling, waste, separation at source (S@S), conceptualisation, participation, Elizabeth Fry Village (EFV), Midrand / LG2017

Thesis (M.A.)--Michigan State University. Dept. of Geography, 2006. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on June 19, 2009) Includes bibliographical references (p. 54-56). Also issued in print.

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1995. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 107-112).

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1994. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 63-64).

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1993.

Thesis (M.Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1994. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 63-64). Also available in print.

The efficacy of five different types of interventions for increasing the number of participants and the quantity of recyclables collected in a corporate-based recycling program were compared. Employees at a corporate research center (N=443) associated with a large state university were asked to bring aluminum cans, glass, and newspaper from home to bins located at work. In addition, in order to track individual employee's recycling behavior, they were asked to write identifying information on each bag of recyclables (i.e., last 4 digits of social security number or a computer identification name). Interventions included appeal messages, two kinds of reciprocity interventions, goals plus feedback, and raffles. A quasi-experimental, modified multiple baseline design was used. More specifically, interventions were given to one building first, and then after a delay, they were administered to the other three buildings simultaneously. Program and intervention information were disseminated by either traditional office memos, electronic mail, or phone mail. Results indicated that only a small percentage of employees participated in the program, and raffles were the only interventions that reliably increased the number of participants and quantity of recyclables. In the hope of being able to predict which employees would participate in the recycling program, prior to the interventions, employees were asked to complete a questionnaire assessing attitudes towards recycling and person variables. More specifically, employees' optimism, environmental concern, beliefs regarding their ability to control environmental outcomes (i.e., “environmental locus of control"), and psychological reactance were assessed. Mean scores on the environmental concern and environmental locus of control scales indicated that employees were quite concerned about the environment and believed that their behavior could have a positive impact on it. Although psychological reactance scores reliably depended on employees’ recycling status (i.e., whether they were non-participants in the recycling program, infrequent participants, or frequent participants), neither it nor any of the other variables could accurately differentiate participants from non-participants in the program. Reasons for the low participation rates and the discrepancy between person variables and participation were discussed, and suggestions for improving future research in this area were made. / Ph. D.

published_or_final_version / Environmental Management / Master / Master of Science in Environmental Management

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