​Psychology

This research is a synthesis of prior research done on low-cost interventions to increase recycling.



Methods: 

• The research data was collected from a population of students, and faculty at a public university in southeast Texas.
• Three areas in academic buildings were selected to be study areas. Each building had a high number of trash bins in classrooms and hallways, and a few recycling bins in only in hallways.
• Before the experiment, the number of recycled bottles in each trash bin was calculated daily at 7pm, Monday to Thursday.
• During the experiment, three variables were changed: recycling bin color (because the prior recycling bins looked similar to normal trash bins), amount of recycling bins in common areas, and adding recycling bins into classrooms.
• Daily number of recycled bottles in each trash bin was determined by collection and counting.

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Results:

• Results show that recycling did not change when the original recycling bins were replaced with colored bins or when more recycling bins were added to common areas.
• Recycling, however, increased when recycling bins were placed into classrooms.
• The authors recommend placing recycling into classrooms to promote recycling. The recommendation will be useful to answer the group’s topic question as it provides insight to an effective method of increasing recycling within campus buildings.​

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O’Connor, R., Lerman, D., Fritz, J., & Hodde, H. (2010). Effects of number and location of bins on plastic recycling at a university. Journal of applied behavior analysis. Vol. 43, 4, pg 711. Retrieved from

http://search.proquest.com.proxy.lib.umich.edu/docview/818744927?accountid=14667