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Students’ Responses to Improve Environmental Sustainability Through Recycling: Quantitatively Improving Qualitative Model

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Abstract

This study attempts to contemplate the respondents’ behaviors regarding recycling, with the purpose of identifying the factors that influence their behaviors. The study is based on a survey that was conducted with 230 nationwide university students and guidelines borrowed from the Theory of Planned Behavior and The Theory of Reasoned action. The data collected was evaluated by applying the Structure Equation Modelling technique. The study concluded that peoples’ attitudes are largely subject to the moral values and general norms of their own society. Additionally, an individual’s response towards recycling is greatly determined by the extent of his/her awareness towards the environment, as well as his/her personal knowledge. Another conclusion was that an individual’s past experience towards recycling contributes to his/her attitude (willingness or apprehension about recycling) in the future. Furthermore, although the convenience and cost of recycling were found to be reasonably significant determinants about one’s recycling behavior, it was determined that time commitment is the most decisive factor that influences an individual’s willingness to or not to recycle. The study’s findings have not only established the authority of Theory of Planned Behaviour and Theory of Reasoned Action, but it has also presented propositions and recommendations for future research. The inferences were based on the study’s respondents, hence, so their validity can be applied to various scenarios involving local educational institutions or government structures. The goal of the study is to encourage people to engage in positive recycling behavior.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Management Sciences, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Kamra Road, 43600, Attock, Pakistan

    Muhammad Shakil Ahmad

  2. Process & Energy Systems Engineering Center-PRESTIGE, Department of Chemical Engineering, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Lahore, Pakistan

    Aqeel Ahmed Bazmi

  3. Department of Chemical Engineering, Dawood University of Engineering & Technology, Karachi, Pakistan

    Abdul Waheed Bhutto

  4. Department of Management Sciences, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Kamra Road, 43600, Attock, Pakistan

    Kanwal Shahzadi & Nadia Bukhari

Authors
  1. Muhammad Shakil Ahmad
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  2. Aqeel Ahmed Bazmi
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  3. Abdul Waheed Bhutto
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  4. Kanwal Shahzadi
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  5. Nadia Bukhari
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Correspondence to Muhammad Shakil Ahmad.

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Table 6 Details of instruments adopted
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Ahmad, M.S., Bazmi, A.A., Bhutto, A.W. et al. Students’ Responses to Improve Environmental Sustainability Through Recycling: Quantitatively Improving Qualitative Model. Applied Research Quality Life 11, 253–270 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-014-9366-7

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