IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v15y2023i2p1620-d1035465.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

College Students’ Attitude towards Waste Separation and Recovery on Campus

Author

Listed:
  • Dongxu Qu

    (Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang 453003, China
    Marketing and Logistics Department, Sumy National Agrarian University, 40031 Sumy, Ukraine)

  • Tetiana Shevchenko

    (Marketing and Logistics Department, Sumy National Agrarian University, 40031 Sumy, Ukraine
    Laboratoire Genie Industriel, CentraleSupélec, Université Paris-Saclay, 91190 Gif-sur-Yvette, France)

  • Zahra Shams Esfandabadi

    (Department of Management, University of Turin, 10134 Turin, Italy)

  • Meisam Ranjbari

    (Department of Economics and Statistics “Cognetti de Martiis”, University of Turin, 10153 Turin, Italy)

Abstract

As large communities, the efficiency and effectiveness of waste management on university campuses are of concern. This study aims to verify the variable relationship, influence path, and regulating factors of college students’ attitudes and behavior toward waste separation. A questionnaire survey was conducted at Henan Institute of Science and Technology, China, with 1300 respondents, among which 1213 questionnaires were valid. The SPSS software v23.0 was used to carry out the statistical analysis of the collected data by applying multiple analyses. The results showed that (i) females outperform males across attitudes and internal and external contextual factors, (ii) freshmen showed more positive waste separation behaviors, while upper-year students’ behaviors were more susceptible to contextual factors, (iii) college students’ attitudes, especially the knowledge factor, have a significant positive influence on behaviors, and (iv) the external contextual factors, as moderating variables, have a significant difference in the impact amplitude at different levels when attitudes affect behaviors. Our findings supplement the limited information available on the potential implications of applying the ABC model in exploring the factors influencing waste separation behaviors among college students. The provided insights can support college students, university administrators, policymakers, and government departments in more effectively optimizing, designing, and managing waste systems on campuses.

Suggested Citation

  • Dongxu Qu & Tetiana Shevchenko & Zahra Shams Esfandabadi & Meisam Ranjbari, 2023. "College Students’ Attitude towards Waste Separation and Recovery on Campus," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-17, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:2:p:1620-:d:1035465
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/2/1620/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/2/1620/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Rospita Odorlina P. Situmorang & Ta-Ching Liang & Shu-Chun Chang, 2020. "The Difference of Knowledge and Behavior of College Students on Plastic Waste Problems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-11, September.
    2. Ajzen, Icek, 1991. "The theory of planned behavior," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 50(2), pages 179-211, December.
    3. Xingyu Yang & Xiaoyi Chen & Xinyue Xiao & Haode Xi & Shiwei Liu, 2021. "College Students’ Willingness to Separate Municipal Waste and Its Influencing Factors: A Case Study in Chongqing, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-17, November.
    4. Chuanhui Liao & Hui Li, 2019. "Environmental Education, Knowledge, and High School Students’ Intention toward Separation of Solid Waste on Campus," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-15, May.
    5. Loveth Daisy Aikowe & Jana Mazancová, 2021. "Plastic Waste Sorting Intentions among University Students," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-14, July.
    6. Oluwatobi Mary Owojori & Ratshalingwa Mulaudzi & Joshua N. Edokpayi, 2022. "Student’s Knowledge, Attitude, and Perception (KAP) to Solid Waste Management: A Survey towards a More Circular Economy from a Rural-Based Tertiary Institution in South Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-23, January.
    7. Decai Tang & Lei Shi & Xiaojuan Huang & Ziqian Zhao & Biao Zhou & Brandon J. Bethel, 2022. "Influencing Factors on the Household-Waste-Classification Behavior of Urban Residents: A Case Study in Shanghai," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-16, May.
    8. Mengge Hao & Dongyong Zhang & Stephen Morse, 2020. "Waste Separation Behaviour of College Students under a Mandatory Policy in China: A Case Study of Zhengzhou City," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-20, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Geovana Dagostim Savi-Bortolotto & Ana Carolina Pescador & Tiago Bortolotto & Camila Garbin Sandi & Alícia Viana de Oliveira & Matheus Rodrigues Pereira Mendes & Kátia Cilene Rodrigues Madruga & Afons, 2025. "Fostering a Sustainable Campus: A Successful Selective Waste Collection Initiative in a Brazilian University," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-21, July.
    2. Graţiela Dana Boca & Sinan Saraçlı, 2025. "Determination of Effective Factors of Food Waste Attitudes of Romanian Consumers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-19, February.
    3. Gratiela Dana Boca & Sinan Saraçli, 2023. "Effects of Romanian Student’s Awareness and Needs Regarding Plastic Waste Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-21, April.
    4. Qiong Zhang & Yun Li & Lei Ding & Bin Jiang, 2025. "Systematic exploring domestic waste sorting behavior and influence mechanism of international students in China: based on the PKIC analysis framework," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 27(5), pages 10439-10467, May.
    5. Gerardo Bernache-Pérez & Lorena De Medina-Salas & Eduardo Castillo-González & Mario Rafael Giraldi-Díaz, 2023. "Strategies to Strengthen Integrated Solid Waste Management in Small Municipalities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-13, February.

    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. Gratiela Dana Boca & Sinan Saraçli, 2023. "Effects of Romanian Student’s Awareness and Needs Regarding Plastic Waste Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-21, April.
    2. Motasem Y. D. Alazaiza & Tharaa Mahmoud Alzghoul & Tahra Al Maskari & Salem Abu Amr & Dia Eddin Nassani, 2024. "Analyzing the Evolution of Research on Student Awareness of Solid Waste Management in Higher Education Institutions: A Bibliometric Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-22, June.
    3. Wei Li & Si Chen & Zhihao Wang & Guomin Li & Xiaoguang Liu, 2022. "The Influence of Message Framing on Residents’ Waste Separation Willingness—The Mediating Role of Moral Identity," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-18, May.
    4. Baihui Jin & Wei Li, 2023. "External Factors Impacting Residents’ Participation in Waste Sorting Using NCA and fsQCA Methods on Pilot Cities in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-21, February.
    5. Zhaoyun Yin & Jing Ma, 2022. "Rational Choice or Altruism Factor: Determinants of Residents’ Behavior toward Household Waste Separation in Xi’an, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-12, September.
    6. Kamel Mouloudj & Anuli Njoku & Dachel Martínez Asanza & Ahmed Chemseddine Bouarar & Marian A. Evans & Smail Mouloudj & Achouak Bouarar, 2023. "Modeling Predictors of Medication Waste Reduction Intention in Algeria: Extending the Theory of Planned Behavior," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(16), pages 1-18, August.
    7. Mengge Hao & Dongyong Zhang & Stephen Morse, 2020. "Waste Separation Behaviour of College Students under a Mandatory Policy in China: A Case Study of Zhengzhou City," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-20, November.
    8. Anna Konstantinidou & Konstantinos Ioannou & Georgios Tsantopoulos & Garyfallos Arabatzis, 2024. "Citizens’ Attitudes and Practices Towards Waste Reduction, Separation, and Recycling: A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-36, November.
    9. Jimena González-Ramírez & Heyi Cheng & Sierra Arral, 2021. "Funding Campus Sustainability through a Green Fee—Estimating Students’ Willingness to Pay," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-15, February.
    10. Xuxi Wang & Jing Tan, 2022. "The Perception and Attitude of Farmers toward Domestic Waste Classifications: A Case Study on Wusheng County, Sichuan Province, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-14, October.
    11. Maria Andersson & Ola Eriksson & Chris Von Borgstede, 2012. "The Effects of Environmental Management Systems on Source Separation in the Work and Home Settings," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 4(6), pages 1-17, June.
    12. Tran Huy Phuong & Thanh Trung Hieu, 2015. "Predictors of Entrepreneurial Intentions of Undergraduate Students in Vietnam: An Empirical Study," International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, Human Resource Management Academic Research Society, International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, vol. 5(8), pages 46-55, August.
    13. Peng Cheng & Zhe Ouyang & Yang Liu, 0. "The effect of information overload on the intention of consumers to adopt electric vehicles," Transportation, Springer, vol. 0, pages 1-20.
    14. Alsalem, Amani & Fry, Marie-Louise & Thaichon, Park, 2020. "To donate or to waste it: Understanding posthumous organ donation attitude," Australasian marketing journal, Elsevier, vol. 28(3), pages 87-97.
    15. Mohammed Akhmaaj, Asmaeil Ali & Sharif, Mohamed Omar, 2024. "The effects of planned behavior model constructs and technology acceptance model constructs on online purchasing behavior: An empirical study on internet users in the Libya city of Tripoli," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    16. Benoît Lécureux & Adrien Bonnet & Ouassim Manout & Jaâfar Berrada & Louafi Bouzouina, 2022. "Acceptance of Shared Autonomous Vehicles: A Literature Review of stated choice experiments," Working Papers hal-03814947, HAL.
    17. Kristin Thomas & Evalill Nilsson & Karin Festin & Pontus Henriksson & Mats Lowén & Marie Löf & Margareta Kristenson, 2020. "Associations of Psychosocial Factors with Multiple Health Behaviors: A Population-Based Study of Middle-Aged Men and Women," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-17, February.
    18. Kamruzzaman, Md. & Baker, Douglas & Washington, Simon & Turrell, Gavin, 2013. "Residential dissonance and mode choice," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 33(C), pages 12-28.
    19. Ficko, Andrej & Boncina, Andrej, 2013. "Probabilistic typology of management decision making in private forest properties," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 27(C), pages 34-43.
    20. Muhammad Shahid Qureshi & Saadat Saeed & Syed Waleed Mehmood Wasti, 2016. "Erratum to: The impact of various entrepreneurial interventions during the business plan competition on the entrepreneur identity aspirations of participants," Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, Springer;UNESCO Chair in Entrepreneurship, vol. 6(1), pages 1-1, December.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    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:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:2:p:1620-:d:1035465. 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: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.