Driving recycling behaviour change in the Global South

Aanchal Sharrma, Arize Okafor, Janeth Amwoma & Shalin Desai

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SECTOR

Climate

PROJECT TYPE

Research report

Location

Global South

BEHAVIORAL THEME

Environmental behaviour & health
OVERVIEW

Plastic waste poses a severe threat to both environmental and human health. The true costs of managing this waste are often shouldered by low- and middle-income countries, yet they are grossly underestimated. This leads to inadequate disposal and waste management practices. As global waste generation continues to rise, it’s evident that plastic waste is a critical issue that demands urgent attention.
Behavioral science plays a crucial role in addressing this challenge by closing the gap between intention and action. By shedding light on the barriers to recycling and offering tailored solutions, behavioral science can significantly enhance the effectiveness of waste management and recycling efforts. This playbook presents key insights, evidence-based interventions to encourage recycling behaviors, and practical guidance on how to implement these strategies.

THEMATIC AREAS
This guide outlines several insights into recycling behaviour and provides guidance on effectively addressing barriers to recycling through targeted interventions. The guide has five key sections:
  1. Brief introduction to behavioural science and how it can increase the impact of recycling initiatives
  2. Overview of the journey of how plastic travels through the waste ecosystem
  3. The typical journey of the consumer when making purchase and recycling-related decisions and the barriers they face along the way
  4. Solutions for consumers, waste pickers, scrap dealers and recycling enterprises that target recycling barriers and increase recycling behaviour
  5. Practical guidance on how to use this playbook and apply recycling initiatives in your specific context