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Effect of Household Interventions on Promoting Waste Segregation Behavior at Source: A Systematic Review

Author

Listed:
  • Babak Moeini

    (Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Department of Public Health, School of Public Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan 6517838687, Iran)

  • Erfan Ayubi

    (Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Health Sciences & Technology Research Institute, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan 6517838687, Iran)

  • Majid Barati

    (Autism Spectrum Disorders Research Center, Department of Public Health, School of Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan 6517838687, Iran)

  • Saeid Bashirian

    (Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Department of Public Health, School of Public Health, Health Sciences & Technology Research Institute, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan 6517838687, Iran)

  • Leili Tapak

    (Modeling of Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center, Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan 6517838687, Iran)

  • Khadije Ezzati-Rastgar

    (Health Education & Health Promotion, Strategic Management Office, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan 6517838687, Iran)

  • Maryam Hashemian

    (Health Education & Health Promotion, Public Health School, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan 6517838687, Iran)

Abstract

Waste segregation at the source is one of the most important strategies of urban waste management and the first environmental priority. This systematic review study was conducted to determine the effects of various interventions to promote household waste segregation behavior. Studies were searched in the Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed databases using the keywords “waste segregation, intervention, randomized controlled trials, and clinical trials”. Through 2 January 2022, two researchers were independently involved in article screening and data abstraction. Inclusion criteria were as follows: experimental and quasi-experimental studies where primary outcomes of the studies included improvement in waste separation behavior, and secondary outcomes of the studies included increased knowledge and improvement in psychological factors. Articles that did not focus on households, studies that focused only on food or electronics separation, and studies that focused only on recycling and its methods were excluded. Of the original 5084 studies, only 26 met the inclusion criteria after reviewing the titles, abstracts, and full texts of the articles. The age of study participants ranged from 15 to 82 years. It seems that most of the studies that suggest higher efficacy consider older age groups for the intervention. Positive results of the interventions were reported in all studies with different ratios; in five studies, the improvement in results was more than 20%. Meta-analysis was not possible because of the diversity of study strategies and outcomes measured. In the studies that lasted longer than two months, people’s waste separation behavior was more permanent. Approaches such as engagement, feedback, and theory-based interventions have been effective in promoting waste separation behavior. Interventions that considered environmental, social, and organizational factors (such as segregation facilities, regular collection of segregated waste, tax exemption, and cooperation of related organizations) in addition to individual factors were more effective and sustainable. For the comparison of studies and meta-analysis of data, it is suggested to use standard criteria such as mean and standard deviation of waste separation behavior and influential structures such as attitude and norm in studies. The results show that it is necessary to use environmental research and ecological approaches and intermittent interventions over time to maintain and continue waste separation behavior. Based on the results of the current research, policy makers and researchers can develop efficient measures to improve waste sorting behavior by using appropriate patterns in society and knowing the effective factors.

Suggested Citation

  • Babak Moeini & Erfan Ayubi & Majid Barati & Saeid Bashirian & Leili Tapak & Khadije Ezzati-Rastgar & Maryam Hashemian, 2023. "Effect of Household Interventions on Promoting Waste Segregation Behavior at Source: A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-16, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:24:p:16546-:d:1293997
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Ernest Yaw Tweneboah-Koduah & Matilda Adams & Kwamina Minta Nyarku, 2020. "Using Theory in Social Marketing to Predict Waste Disposal Behaviour among Households in Ghana," Journal of African Business, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 21(1), pages 62-77, January.
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    4. Miguel Ángel Aguilar-Jurado & Pedro Gil-Madrona & Juan Francisco Ortega-Dato & David Zamorano-García, 2019. "Effects of an Educational Glass Recycling Program against Environmental Pollution in Spain," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-16, December.
    5. Yan Wang & Feng Hao & Yunxia Liu, 2021. "Pro-Environmental Behavior in an Aging World: Evidence from 31 Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-13, February.
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