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Residents’ waste source separation behaviours in Shanghai, China

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Abstract

This paper aims to investigate the driving forces behind waste source separation behaviour (WSSB), and behaviour anticipation was first introduced under the theory of planned behaviour (TPB). The specific research hypotheses (RHs) regarding WSSB are supported by relevant literature and the TPB, seven conceptual factors are established to investigate the key forces behind the rarely discussed WSSB of household solid waste (HSW), and the RHs are empirically tested through the structural equation modelling method with the 433 surveys conducted in Shanghai, China. Some interesting findings are observed in this study: both behaviour anticipation and environmental awareness and knowledge have an influence on attitudes. Attitudes, subjective norms (SNs), cost of separation, and convenience are all confirmed to play a role in influencing the separation intention towards WSSB. It was observed that separation intention and convenience have a significant effect on positive WSSB behaviour, which is supported by the TPB. In addition, several implications are proposed to strengthen WSSB.

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Acknowledgements

This study was part of the project “Theoretical, empirical and policy suggestions and research on the performance of construction on land that is systematically decreasing (PCLSD) in economically developed areas—Taking Shanghai as an example” (17BGL158), funded by the National Social Science Foundation of China.

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  1. School of Public Economics and Administration, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, 777 Guoding Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai, 200433, P.R. China

    Keqiang Wang & Jianglin Lu

  2. School of Finance and Business, Shanghai Normal University, 100 Haisi Road, Fengxian District, Shanghai, 200433, P.R. China

    Hongmei Liu

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Wang, K., Lu, J. & Liu, H. Residents’ waste source separation behaviours in Shanghai, China. J Mater Cycles Waste Manag 23, 937–949 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-021-01179-7

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