IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/jrpoli/v86y2023ipbs0301420723008632.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

How convenience and informational tools shape waste separation behavior: A social network approach

Author

Listed:
  • Cheng, Xiu
  • Li, Wenbo
  • Yang, Jiameng
  • Zhang, Linling

Abstract

Geopolitical risks such as energy crises and local or regional instability aggravate the growing conflict between limited natural resources and increasing consumption, making waste management—using waste as a resource—one of the most urgent agendas in the sustainability domain. Considering individuals' dual attributes (i.e., attitudes and behaviors), we develop an interaction model to investigate waste separation behavior that accounts for convenience and informational tools. Multiagent simulations are performed using data collected from 1056 residents in the top ten Chinese cities by volume of household waste. The results indicate that convenience tools can induce residents to separate waste. In particular, a 160% increase in the adoption rate is observed in response to decreasing (increasing) the distance to collection sites (accessibility to temporary storage facilities for recyclables) from 10 (0) to 0 (10). Publicity and education promote waste separation, as approximately 72% of individuals choose to separate waste when increasing the intensity of popular science propaganda from 0 to 0.2. Interestingly, social interaction appears to have a two-sided effect on waste separation behavior. The adoption rate of such behavior increases with the number of one's connections in sparse social networks, whereas the opposite is found in close social networks. The findings reveal the differentiated impacts of convenience and informational tools on waste minimization and provide new ideas for formulating customized strategies to promote waste separation in sparse (increasing individuals' number of connections) or close (monitoring rumors to achieve a tightly controlled intensity of interaction) social network scenarios.

Suggested Citation

  • Cheng, Xiu & Li, Wenbo & Yang, Jiameng & Zhang, Linling, 2023. "How convenience and informational tools shape waste separation behavior: A social network approach," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 86(PB).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jrpoli:v:86:y:2023:i:pb:s0301420723008632
    DOI: 10.1016/j.resourpol.2023.104152
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301420723008632
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.resourpol.2023.104152?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Authelet, Manon & Subervie, Julie & Meyfroidt, Patrick & Asquith, Nigel & Ezzine-de-Blas, Driss, 2021. "Economic, pro-social and pro-environmental factors influencing participation in an incentive-based conservation program in Bolivia," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    2. Liu, Wei & Li, Xin & Liu, Chunyan & Wang, Minxi & Liu, Litao, 2023. "Resilience assessment of the cobalt supply chain in China under the impact of electric vehicles and geopolitical supply risks," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    3. Simoiu, Mircea Stefan & Fagarasan, Ioana & Ploix, Stéphane & Calofir, Vasile, 2022. "Modeling the energy community members’ willingness to change their behaviour with multi-agent systems: A stochastic approach," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 194(C), pages 1233-1246.
    4. Arvind P. Ravikumar & Morgan Bazilian & Michael E. Webber, 2022. "The US role in securing the European Union’s near-term natural gas supply," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 7(6), pages 465-467, June.
    5. Zhang, Qi & Liu, Jiangfeng & Yang, Kexin & Liu, Boyu & Wang, Ge, 2022. "Market adoption simulation of electric vehicle based on social network model considering nudge policies," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 259(C).
    6. Li, Shuang & Yang, Qifeng & Zhang, Yuhang & Liu, Jiao, 2022. "Multi-agent evolutionary game analysis of the coal mine on-site regulatory mode," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    7. Asaf Tzachor & Soheil Sabri & Catherine E. Richards & Abbas Rajabifard & Michele Acuto, 2022. "Potential and limitations of digital twins to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 5(10), pages 822-829, October.
    8. Dogan, Eyup & Majeed, Muhammad Tariq & Luni, Tania, 2021. "Analyzing the impacts of geopolitical risk and economic uncertainty on natural resources rents," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    9. Pat Auger & Timothy Devinney, 2007. "Do What Consumers Say Matter? The Misalignment of Preferences with Unconstrained Ethical Intentions," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 76(4), pages 361-383, December.
    10. Malak Anshassi & Timothy G. Townsend, 2023. "The hidden economic and environmental costs of eliminating kerb-side recycling," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 6(8), pages 919-928, August.
    11. Riddle, Matthew & Macal, Charles M. & Conzelmann, Guenter & Combs, Todd E. & Bauer, Diana & Fields, Fletcher, 2015. "Global critical materials markets: An agent-based modeling approach," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 307-321.
    12. Moser, Andrea K., 2016. "Consumers' purchasing decisions regarding environmentally friendly products: An empirical analysis of German consumers," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 31(C), pages 389-397.
    13. Pereira, Vijay & Nandakumar, M.K. & Sahasranamam, Sreevas & Bamel, Umesh & Malik, Ashish & Temouri, Yama, 2022. "An exploratory study into emerging market SMEs’ involvement in the circular Economy: Evidence from India’s indigenous Ayurveda industry," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 188-199.
    14. Jendoubi, Imen & Bouffard, François, 2023. "Multi-agent hierarchical reinforcement learning for energy management," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 332(C).
    15. Uddin, Mohammad Nyme & Chi, Hung-Lin & Wei, His-Hsien & Lee, Minhyun & Ni, Meng, 2022. "Influence of interior layouts on occupant energy-saving behaviour in buildings: An integrated approach using Agent-Based Modelling, System Dynamics and Building Information Modelling," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    16. Park, Keonwoo & Moon, Ilkyeong, 2022. "Multi-agent deep reinforcement learning approach for EV charging scheduling in a smart grid," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 328(C).
    17. Cheng, Xiu & Long, Ruyin & Chen, Hong, 2020. "A policy utility dislocation model based on prospect theory: A case study of promoting policies with low-carbon lifestyle," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    18. Welsch, Heinz & Kühling, Jan, 2011. "Are pro-environmental consumption choices utility-maximizing? Evidence from subjective well-being data," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 75-87.
    19. Gu, Binxian & Wang, Haikun & Chen, Zun & Jiang, Suqin & Zhu, Weimo & Liu, Miaomiao & Chen, Yangqing & Wu, Yi & He, Sheng & Cheng, Rong & Yang, Jie & Bi, Jun, 2015. "Characterization, quantification and management of household solid waste: A case study in China," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 67-75.
    20. Meles, Tensay Hadush & Ryan, Lisa, 2022. "Adoption of renewable home heating systems: An agent-based model of heat pumps in Ireland," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    21. Peterson, Robert A, 1994. "A Meta-analysis of Cronbach's Coefficient Alpha," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 21(2), pages 381-391, September.
    22. Tanya Stathers & Deirdre Holcroft & Lisa Kitinoja & Brighton M. Mvumi & Alicia English & Oluwatoba Omotilewa & Megan Kocher & Jessica Ault & Maximo Torero, 2020. "A scoping review of interventions for crop postharvest loss reduction in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 3(10), pages 821-835, October.
    23. Beck, Erin, 2016. "Repopulating Development: An Agent-Based Approach to Studying Development Interventions," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 19-32.
    24. Ertz, Myriam & Karakas, Fahri & Sarigöllü, Emine, 2016. "Exploring pro-environmental behaviors of consumers: An analysis of contextual factors, attitude, and behaviors," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(10), pages 3971-3980.
    25. Kim, Jeeyeon & Kim, Mingyung & Choi, Jeonghye & Trivedi, Minakshi, 2019. "Offline social interactions and online shopping demand: Does the degree of social interactions matter?," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 373-381.
    26. Dhir, Amandeep & Sadiq, Mohd & Talwar, Shalini & Sakashita, Mototaka & Kaur, Puneet, 2021. "Why do retail consumers buy green apparel? A knowledge-attitude-behaviour-context perspective," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 59(C).
    27. Geng, Jichao & Long, Ruyin & Chen, Hong, 2016. "Impact of information intervention on travel mode choice of urban residents with different goal frames: A controlled trial in Xuzhou, China," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 134-147.
    28. Song, Malin & Xie, Qianjiao & Shen, Zhiyang, 2021. "Impact of green credit on high-efficiency utilization of energy in China considering environmental constraints," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
    29. Wenman Liu & Elisabeth Gerber & Suhyun Jung & Arun Agrawal, 2022. "The role of human and social capital in earthquake recovery in Nepal," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 5(2), pages 167-173, February.
    30. Cheng, Xiu & Long, Ruyin & Chen, Hong & Yang, Jiahui, 2019. "Does social interaction have an impact on residents’ sustainable lifestyle decisions? A multi-agent stimulation based on regret and game theory," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 251(C), pages 1-1.
    31. Naqvi, Asjad, 2017. "Deep Impact: Geo-Simulations as a Policy Toolkit for Natural Disasters," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 395-418.
    32. Li, Jingjing & Jiao, Jianling & Tang, Yunshu, 2020. "Analysis of the impact of policies intervention on electric vehicles adoption considering information transmission—based on consumer network model," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    33. Viehmann, Johannes & Lorenczik, Stefan & Malischek, Raimund, 2021. "Multi-unit multiple bid auctions in balancing markets: An agent-based Q-learning approach," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    34. Miliute-Plepiene, Jurate & Hage, Olle & Plepys, Andrius & Reipas, Algirdas, 2016. "What motivates households recycling behaviour in recycling schemes of different maturity? Lessons from Lithuania and Sweden," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 40-52.
    35. Song, Malin & Ma, Xiaowei & Shang, Yuping & Zhao, Xin, 2020. "Influences of land resource assets on economic growth and fluctuation in China," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    36. Wang, Shanyong & Wang, Jing & Lin, Shoufu & Li, Jun, 2020. "How and when does information publicity affect public acceptance of nuclear energy?," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 198(C).
    37. Katherine Jusuf & Krittinee Nuttavuthisit, 2023. "Going from attitude to action: Analyzing how the orientations of sustainable food businesses influence their business strategies," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(7), pages 4371-4381, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Cheng, Xiu & Long, Ruyin & Wu, Fan & Geng, Jichao & Yang, Jiameng, 2023. "How social interaction shapes habitual and occasional low-carbon consumption behaviors: Evidence from ten cities in China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).
    2. Cheng, Xiu & Wu, Fan & Li, Wenbo & Yang, Jiameng & Long, Ruyin, 2024. "What maintains low-carbon consumption behaviors: Evidence from China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 189(PB).
    3. Cheng, Xiu & Wu, Fan & Long, Ruyin & Li, Wenbo, 2021. "Uncovering the effects of learning capacity and social interaction on the experienced utility of low-carbon lifestyle guiding policies," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    4. Lee, Stacy H.N. & Chang, Hyo Jung (Julie) & Zhao, Li, 2023. "The importance of personal norms and situational expectancies to sustainable behaviors: The norm activation and situational expectancy-value theories," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    5. Liu, Han & Yang, Peng & He, Yongda & Oxley, Les & Guo, Pengwei, 2024. "Exploring the influence of the geopolitical risks on the natural resource price volatility and correlation: Evidence from DCC-MIDAS-X model," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 129(C).
    6. Foglia, Matteo & Palomba, Giulio & Tedeschi, Marco, 2023. "Disentangling the geopolitical risk and its effects on commodities. Evidence from a panel of G8 countries," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(PB).
    7. Ruguo Fan & Rongkai Chen, 2022. "Promotion Policies for Electric Vehicle Diffusion in China Considering Dynamic Consumer Preferences: A Network-Based Evolutionary Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-21, April.
    8. Sreen, Naman & Dhir, Amandeep & Talwar, Shalini & Tan, Teck Ming & Alharbi, Fatimah, 2021. "Behavioral reasoning perspectives to brand love toward natural products: Moderating role of environmental concern and household size," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).
    9. Wang, Yitong & Fan, Ruguo & Du, Kang & Bao, Xuguang, 2023. "Exploring incentives to promote electric vehicles diffusion under subsidy abolition: An evolutionary analysis on multiplex consumer social networks," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 276(C).
    10. Tian Zeng & Fabien Durif, 2019. "The Influence of Consumers’ Perceived Risks towards Eco-Design Packaging upon the Purchasing Decision Process: An Exploratory Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(21), pages 1-29, November.
    11. Landisoa Rabeson & Corina Paraschiv & Laurent Bertrandias & Régis Chenavaz, 2022. "Couple Ethical Purchase Behavior and Joint Decision Making: Understanding the Interaction Process and the Dynamics of Influence," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-19, July.
    12. Zhongwei Zhu & Tingyu Qian & Lei Liu, 2023. "Evolutionary Simulation of Carbon-Neutral Behavior of Urban Citizens in a “Follow–Drive” Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-28, July.
    13. Wintschnig, Bea Alexandra, 2021. "The Attitude-Behavior Gap – Drivers and Barriers of Sustainable Consumption," Junior Management Science (JUMS), Junior Management Science e. V., vol. 6(2), pages 324-346.
    14. Cui, Lianbiao & Yue, Suyun & Nghiem, Xuan-Hoa & Duan, Mei, 2023. "Exploring the risk and economic vulnerability of global energy supply chain interruption in the context of Russo-Ukrainian war," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    15. Li, Jingjing & Jiao, Jianling & Tang, Yunshu, 2020. "Analysis of the impact of policies intervention on electric vehicles adoption considering information transmission—based on consumer network model," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    16. Soni, Vivek & Dey, Prasanta Kumar & Sharma, Sunil & Das, Debadyuti, 2023. "Negotiating oil and gas resource ownership for equitable sharing: A problematization approach and evidence from India," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(PA).
    17. Wenchun Ran & Ling Zhang, 2023. "Bridging the intention-behavior gap in mobile phone recycling in China: the effect of consumers’ price sensitivity and proactive personality," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(1), pages 938-959, January.
    18. Sara Alghanim & Nelson Oly Ndubisi, 2022. "The Paradox of Sustainability and Luxury Consumption: The Role of Value Perceptions and Consumer Income," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-22, November.
    19. Anh Thi Van Tran & Nhung Thi Nguyen, 2021. "Organic Food Consumption among Households in Hanoi: Importance of Situational Factors," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-16, November.
    20. Aysan, Ahmet Faruk & Bakkar, Yassine & Ul-Durar, Shajara & Kayani, Umar Nawaz, 2023. "Natural resources governance and conflicts: Retrospective analysis," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(PA).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:jrpoli:v:86:y:2023:i:pb:s0301420723008632. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/inca/30467 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.