#Recycling is not always a conscious choice. While certain conditions like convenient pick-up and #awareness (what can and cannot be recycled or the advantages of recycling) play a significant role, other - seemingly insignificant - factors subconsciously affect people’s decisions about recycling:
- The shape of a bin opening - A recycling bin’s aperture shape can affect how a person recycles. In a study in 2008, two sets of bins - One set without lids and another with lids with openings - were used. Each bin was labeled with its designated recyclable waste type. The use of shaped lids resulted in a noteworthy 34% increase in precise recycling and an impressive 95% reduction in contaminants, such as food, within the recycling process.
- #Identity - Given its significant role in society, individuals tend to be quite protective about their identity. Names are a crucial part of identity. One study - carried out as a juice-tasting activity - involved the use of recyclable cups with the names of participants. Those with their names spelled correctly were more likely to recycle their cups. Only 24% of participants who had a misspelling recycled their cups as opposed to the 48% whose names were spelled correctly. One of the authors of the study, Jennifer Argo said, “We are averse to trashing something that is tied to our identity as it would be conceptually similar to trashing a part of the self, which makes people more likely to recycle.”
- The #NudgeTheory - #ChoiceArchitecture - changing the #decisionmaking environment - can result in people choosing one option over another. The same can apply to recycling. Hotels encourage guests to reuse their towels since cleaning them requires a substantial amount of water. In 2008, a study got hotels to reword their requests. This time, the request said that most guests reused their towels. This resulted in a 26% rise in towel reuse. When the request specified that the previous guests had reused their towels, the number shot up to 33%.?
Often the things that go unnoticed are the kind that cause considerable impact. They may seem insignificant initially, but a deeper study and understanding may reveal otherwise. When it comes to recycling, tiny things play a critical role in people's minds when deciding whether or not to recycle. Regardless, the best option is always to recycle.?
