The placing of non-recyclable items ('contaminants') into household recycling bins is a persistent problem, facing local, state and federal government waste policy makers, the waste industry and the community as a whole.
This project focuses on gaining a better understanding of why contamination happens in the first place and what behaviour change interventions can successfully help Australians improve their recycling practices.
To understand both barriers to correct recycling and potential interventions, we:
In conducting this research, we followed The BehaviourWorks Method to gather evidence on the behaviour change approaches most likely to work.
(See a brief visual summary of the BehaviourWorks Method or a more extensive explanation.)
We conducted a rapid evidence review to summarise and evaluate published literature and practitioner reflections on the effectiveness of interventions for reducing contamination and encouraging correct recycling at a household level.
Alongside, we conducted a series of interviews with Australian policy-makers and reviewed their policy documents to better understand identified barriers and potential interventions in the Australian context.
In reviewing the literature, we found little high-quality evidence on 'what works' to change contamination behaviour. The review therefore focused on broader recycling and waste-related behaviour.
Note: BehaviourWorks Australia was engaged by the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment to conduct this review, in parallel to the other work of the BWA Waste and Circular Economy Collaboration.
The research revealed:
For readers wanting a quick overview of the evidence review (5 minute read)
For readers writing a brief, a policy submission or wanting a summary of practical insights.
For readers needing all the technical detail, including the full methodology.
Following the CoDesign workshops and followup work, a series of online experiments and field trials were selected.
In all, 13 field trials and 24 online experiments were designed in collaboration with 19 local Councils, Planet Ark and our four state government Collaboration Agencies.
Facebook experiments:
What works to grab and hold people's attention?
Survey experiments:
What works to improve people's sorting knowledge / intentions?
Field Trials:
What works to improve people's actual sorting behaviour?
Trials were significantly delayed due to Covid-19.
Final results are expected mid 2021.
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