Attitudes and Habits towards Recycling - Term Paper Example

Table of Contents Table of Contents 1 Attitudes and Habits towards Recycling 2 Abstract 2 Introduction 3 Methodology 5 Results 7 Discussion 12 References 16 Attitudes and Habits towards Recycling Abstract This research hypothesis is that various attitudes and habits impacts on waste recycling among Navitas academic English International Student. The study was carried on 50 overseas in Sydney with the sample having equal male and women. The data was tabulated in reference to the genders and results presented on graphs. The study found that various attitudes and habits influenced the recycling rate for both genders. Lack of knowledge was cited as the main reason that deters recycling of wastes among overseas students. Private collection of waste was pointed as the main method of collecting waste for recycling, with bottles being highly recycled, most participants pointed that they did recycle household waste because they care about the environment. From the result it was indicated that most likely use of public kerbside would increase recycling rates among overseas students. This information gathered in this study is quite fundamental and would support the manufacturing firms, the government and households to focus on various strategies that encourage waste recycling and reduce landfills. Keywords: Attitudes, Habits, recycling Introduction Waste recycling is a topic that gets much attention from the public and within the government of every nation. However, waste recycling still faces challenges of being implemented despite the fact that waste continues being produced. There are various reason given that explains why this is so raging from poor recycling infrastructures, lack of government funds to invest on recycling systems, the GDP and GDP growth and socio-psychological behaviors (Tang, Chen and Luo, 2011). Borromeo, (2013) in India for example, IT prowess in the country does attract world-wide business. However, they produce large amount of e-waste that children scavenge in condition that are quite perilous. According to the Association of Chamber of Commerce and Indian Industry report, the e-waste produced per year in Bangalore; the Indian city is 20.000 tonnes. According to Australian Social Trends (AST) (2007), within the household level about 99% households reported reusing or recycling at least one of their wastes in 2002-2003. Jenning (n.d) on a research conducted among 168 first year student of a university to find out attitudes and beliefs that relate to recycling found that there exist a strong relationship between recycling behaviors and environmental attitudes and awareness. This report will look into habits and attitudes towards waste recycling among 50 Navitas academy English Literature class overseasstudents in Sydney. Within the households AST (2007) in 92% reported recycling used papers, in 2006 compared to 55% in 1992. Glass recyclers were the same over the same period. Plastic recycling rate increased from 37% within households to 97%. Garden waste over the same period increased from 47%-66% with food or kitchen waste being 36%-48%. Reason for increased recycling rates between 1992-2006 was accounted from; Accessible kerbside recycling within the town and improved kerbside collection methods. Tang, Chen and Luo (2011) did a study on 756 cases using structural equation modeling. From the study, there were inconsistent findings pertaining social-psychological variables effects on the behavior of recycling. Their study did however; find that recycling behavior is significantly affected when one knows the harms those non-recycling posses to the environment, situation factor, attitude towards recycling, moral norm, justification, subjective norm, and self efficacy. From their research attitude regarding recycling positively impacts on recycling behavior, although some research did differ with these findings. Socioeconomic is another factor that affects the recycling behavior. The research did find that though only a few studies have been done on developing countries and rural areas most studies were concentrated in cities. Knussen and Yule (2008) did a research to find out whether habitual behavior impacts waste recycling; on 252 participants from United Kingdom and Scotland. Of the cases 60% indicated they do not have past recycling habits a fact which supported why they do not find reason or do not recycle. Situational constraints did deter recycling, such as lack of local curbside collections (60%); and no facilities available (70%). Nevertheless, gender disparity of failure to recycle was not highly recorded. Planet Ark (2010) in their research did find that in Australia the rates of recycling battery are quite low with 75% of interviewed cases pointed that they would be much willing to recycle batteries if they knew how to do that while only 23% were not definite on their willingness to recycle the batteries and 2% is likely not recycle while 1% definitely do not recycle. The respondent felt that there was a need to recycle the end of life of the battery while the manufacturers should cover recycling cost. Despite these tremendous researches none of the study has been carried out in the Navitas Academic English International Student, in Sydney. The purpose of this research was to find out the behavioral attitudes and habits towards Navitas academic English International Student, regarding waste recycling. This research hypothesis is that various attitudes and habits impacts on waste recycling among Navitas academic English International Student. The findings of this research will be significant to waste recycling firms, government, institutions and individuals within the household as the information was collected and analyzed regarding the current behaviors habits and attitudes that encourage or deter waste recycling and highlighted shortcoming that hinder good waste recycling measures. This information is quite fundamental and would support the manufacturing firms, the government and households to focus on various strategies that encourage waste recycling and reduce landfills. Methodology On 25th September, 2015, a research was conducted in order to find out the attitudes towards recycling habits and attitudes among overseas students in Sydney. The sample included 25 males and 25 females studying academic English at Navitals in Sydney. Most participants came from China. Other subjects were Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Saudi Arabia, Nepal and Bagladesh. The research was conducted using 8 structured questionnaires and one unstructured question inquiring about the participant’s nationality. The questionnaires were given to participants to complete during English class at Navitas while other were in lunch break. The survey contained 9 questions that were administered in-formally. The questions in the questionnaire were adapted from the previous research carried in Australian Bureau of statistics (2007) and contained 9 questions and were made up of three sections. The first section was concerned with demographic information. The second section dealt with attitudes toward recycling waste. The third section was related to recycling behavior. The result were collected and then converted into percentages. The data was represented in graphs and then compared in terms of gender. Results Figure 1 analyses type of household waste recycled by overseas students in Navitas English Academy by gender From figure 1 majority of the participants in both genders recycled bottles, while only 6% female is likely to recycle carbon with no male recycled carbon on the other hand. Of significance, 40% males and 31% females recycled bottles while about a similar percentage from both genders recyled plastics 23% males and 25% females. Of keen interest is that high number of males (28%) than females (19%) females recycled papers with only 0% men and 6% indicating having recycled carbons. Almost two times as many females as males recycled glass (19% females and 9% males respectively). Figure 2 indicates reasons that made overseas students to recycle household waste. From the graph is quite evident that majority of the students from both genders 44% and 48% recycled household waste because they worry about environment. However, small percentage of females 12% recycled to save money of which 40% of males reported recycling waste to save money. From the graph, more women (48%) than men (40%) recycled waste because they worry about the environment. However, more than three times males 40% recycled waste to save money compared to 12% females who reported having recycled waste to save money. Importantly, 40% females more than two times as many men 16% recycled waste because it is easy to do. Figure 3 shows the common recycling methods used by the overseas students to recycle household waste. It is quite evident from figure 3 that Majority of the overseas students from both genders indicated that private collection from the house (52% males and 68% females) was the main recycling method while equal number of 8% for both genders indicated that they did use other common recycling methods. Of much significance is that private collection was the main reported common recycling method that the overseas students use by both genders (52% males and 68% females). Substantially, low number of males and females than private collection did report that took to a special area at dump (28% and 20% respectively). Three times as much men compared to women used the waste as compost at home or mulch (12% and 4% respectively) with a small percentage of equal number of males 8% and females 8% stating other methods. Figure 4, indicates reasons for not recycling household waste among overseas students in Navitas, with males indicating most reasons. From figure 4 is clear that equal percentage of participants in both genders (48%) indicated that they don’t know how to recycle as the main reason why they do not recycle waste while only 8% males reported the reason as being expensive with 0% citing the reason as expensive. Of keen interest I that high equal percentage of both males and females of 48% cited the fact that they do not know how to recycle waste as the main reason for not recycling household waste. Relatively, high number of females 44% females and 36% males indicated that recycling required too much effort and that is the reason they felled to recycled household waste. Surprisingly, small equal percentage of the genders of 8% said they do not care about recycling, while only 8% males and 0% females cited it being costly. Discussion This research hypothesized that various attitudes and habits impacts on waste recycling among Navitas academic English International Student. This was partially supported from the results. The main findings of the research was that both males and females recycled glass, recycled because they worry about the environment and private collection was the main method of recycling waste that they used. Moreover, majority of overseas students in both genders cited that they do not know how to recycle household waste as the main reason for not recycling waste. The first result did indicate that a big number recycled bottles and plastics compared to glass and carbon. The two main reason why this could be so for Navitas academy English Literature overseas student is that bottles and plastics can be re-used for other purposes. Secondly, bottles and plastics are a major waste in institutions meaning there is so much of it that can be recycled. This could be explained by research that bottles and plastics are easy to use for other purposes, while carbon and glasses require a costly procedure of recycling including sorting and cleaning glasses that students may not afford (RCBC, 2015). Surprisingly, a moderate low number is likely to recycle used papers. This outcome could mean either most students are not informed on the best way to recycle papers since within learning institution paper waste is quite high. This was not backed up by the literature as (Australian Social Trends, 2007) found that more households did recycle waste papers, glass, waste food and kitchen waste in 2006. Other reasons could mean that there are no bins within classrooms to necessitate the habit of dropping them on the bins. Another possible reason could have been that the institution has employed casual workers who collect the papers and burn them therefore, they might be less of them available for recycling. Or else, overseas students may be they may not know the best way to recycle used papers. The second results did indicate that that majority of overseas students in both genders recycled waste as they worry about the environment. According to Tang, Chen and Luo (2011) most people are likely to recycle waste if they understand what harm failure to recycle posses to the environment. From these authors attitude toward recycling affects it positively. Also, the research did differ with Knussen & Yule (2008) that indicated that gender disparity was quite negligible, while in this case there was high recorded disparity. Possible explanation of the outcome could be that there has been much information both over social media, institutions ministry of environment in various countries urging people to recycle waste to protect the environment. The universities in Australia; Sydney in general also emphasizes the need to protect the environment. There are various campaigns via institutions environmental clubs, posters and presence of bins in various locations placed to ensure waste is dropped there to necessitate environment care. Those campaigns pass key information that the environment protection is key responsibility for each individual. Generally, more men than female are likely to do something to get money while if they feel it is much tasking with no monetary reward they mail fail to do that compared to females. Such, a fact could have led to more men recycling waste to save money with more females recycling as they felt it require less effort. Results three did find that most methods employed to recycle waste were private collection. This could imply that most overseas students in Navitas academy English Literature class do not recycle as they may not be able to access private collection due to cost. From the past studies, there was a notable recycling increased behavior from 1992-2006, a fact which was accounted for accessible kerbside recycling within the town and improved kerbside collection methods (Australian Social Trends, 2007). Knussen and Yule (2008) did also find that situational constraints such as kerbside collection, accessibility and availability did determine recycling rates. Hence, providing free, accessible and available methods for waste collection may necessitate more overseas students recycling waste within the institution. The last result, surprisingly most participants of equal genders indicated that they failed to recycle waste because they do not know how to recycle. According to Planet Ark (2010) majority of people would recycle batteries waste if they knew how to do it. Knussen and Yule (2008) found that majority of respondents failed to recycle since they do not have past waste recycling experience. From these findings it can be concluded that although, environmental waste recycling has been a major topic in various platforms most people do not understand the concept. Additionally, students may not understand that they have a role to play in recycling waste rather than the institution and the government and therefore, the topic might have not gotten much interest for majority of them. Another speculation is that the most recycling methods pointed out in media and other campaigns could be the sophisticated ones that require technology like in recycling plants that the students are sure they do not know how they can apply. The findings of this research imply that they can be used as a guide for Sydney institutions to understand the habits and attitudes that deter or encourage household waste recycling. This information is quite fundamental and would support the manufacturing firms, the government and households to focus on various strategies that encourage waste recycling and reduce landfills. The information would also help private firms respond to high demand for waste collection for recycling. The government and institutions would use the data to review strategies of providing students all over the countries in Australia with the need, means and processes to recycle household waste. The study did however have shortcomings. First, it was only limited to overseas students in Navitas academy English Literature class in Sydney and only a small number was used for the study; of 50 cases. This could have caused a lot of bias as most of them come from various urban centers in their home countries with majority from China and other subjects were Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Saudi Arabia, Nepal and Bagladesh and it was only concentrated to a single class. And therefore, the study may fail to show the general attitudes and habits regarding household waste recycling among all overseas students in Navitas. Secondly, the questionnaire was not effective as there was no much time to review the previous research resulting to unreliable results. Finally, environmental waste recycling habits and attitude is prone to changes with time with other independent variables like socioeconomic status of a country impacting on it and hence, the results may not be reliable for long-term applications. The research however, recommends that since the study found that private collection method was highly used. A research should be carried out to determine hypothesis that public kerbside could improve recycling rates within the college. Also, further research should be carried out to find why relatively low number recycles paper waste yet is highly produced waste within learning institutions. Finally, the study should be carried out on large sample among overseas students to increase efficacy, reliability and reduce bias. References Australian Social Trends-4102.0 (2007). Household Waste. Retrieved 10/2/2015 from, http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Latestproducts/E1E64A4DB813BC8BCA25732C00207FF7?opendocument Borromeo, L. (2013). Resource efficiency: India’s e-waste burden. Retrieved 10/7/2015 from, http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/india-it-electronic-waste Jenning M. E. (n.d.). An Instrument to Measure the Recycling Attitudes and Beliefs of Undergraduate at a Large Northeastern University. Unniversity of Connecticut. Knussen, C. & Yule, F. (2008). “I’m not in the habit of recycling”: The role of habitual behavior in the disposal of household waste. Environment and Behavior 40:683-702 Planet Ark (2010). Battery use, disposal and recycling in Australia. Planet Ark Research Report. Retrieved 10/2/2015 from, http://recyclingweek.planetark.org/documents/doc-513-battery-research-report-final.pdf Recycling Council of British Columbia (2015). Why Are Glass Bottles And Jars Not Included In My Curbside Recycling Program. Retrieved 10/3/2015, from, http://www.rcbc.ca/resources/faqs/glass6 Tang, Z., Chen X. and Luo J. (2011). Determining Socio-Psychological drivers for rural household recycling behavior in developing countries: a case study from wugan, Huna, China. Environment and Behavior, 43(6): 848-877 Read More