Abstract
Waste classification and recycling behaviours of urban residents are important for waste recovery, reduction, and decontamination. Because residents' waste classification and recycling behaviours are influenced by several factors, this study developed a new waste classification and recycling influencing factor model. Based on 424 questionnaires collected from Shanghai residents, the influences of internal recycling competencies (i.e., waste classification skills and habits) and external environmental conditions (i.e., classification facilities and systems, reward and penalty measures for classification, and failure to safeguard classification achievements) on residents' classification and recycling behaviours were empirically tested. It was found that residents' classification and recycling skills and habits as well as government reward and penalty measures for classification had a significant positive effect on the residents' classification and recycling behaviours(0.159,p<0.01;0.241, p<0.01 and 0.141, p<0.01), and the failure to safeguard classification achievements had a significant negative influence on their classification and recycling behaviours(-0.106, p<0.05). Residents' classification and recycling intentions were found to have a partial mediating effect on the relationship between waste classification skills and classification and recycling behaviours(0.572, p<0.01); and a complete mediating effect on that between reward and penalty measures for classification and classification and recycling behaviours(0.577, p<0.01). This research contributes to previous research by offeringa new waste classification and recycling influencing factor model with a new and comprehensive empirical research result.
