Ethnic Variation in Stated Recycling Attitudes and Behaviors

1. Ethnic Variation in Stated Recycling Attitudes and Behaviors
among Households in Ontario, Canada
Resources (Under Review)
By: Dr. Calvin Lakhan
http://wastewiki.info.yorku.ca/
lakhanc@yorku.ca

2. Overview
• Study undertook an examination ethnic variation in
recycling attitudes and behaviors
• Study of 12 ethnic groups in three municipalities in the
GTA
• Is there a link ethnicity and recycling attitudes and self
reported recycling behavior?

3. Methods
• 795 Study Participants
• Survey was organized into seven areas:
1. Current Recycling Behavior
2. Recycling Attitudes
3. Subjective Norms
4. Moral Norms
5. Situational Factors
6. Levels of Perceived Control
7. Awareness of Recycling Outcomes/Consequences

4. Results
• Significant behavioral heterogeneity with respect to why people recycle,
motivators for recycling and general attitudes towards the environment and
stewardship
• Differences in reported behavior and attitudes between first and second
generation immigrants
• Second and third generation minorities have much more homogenous
recycling behaviors

5. Conclusions
• A thorough understanding of motives and barriers to
recycling for ethnic minorities in Ontario is critical
• Changing demography of recyclers in Ontario
necessitates suggests that there is no “one size fits all”
for recycling engagement
• Can municipalities design campaigns that cater to their
diverse communities? Should they? Can they “offload”
this responsibility to others?

6. Conclusions
• A thorough understanding of motives and barriers to
recycling for ethnic minorities in Ontario is critical
• Changing demography of recyclers in Ontario
necessitates suggests that there is no “one size fits all”
for recycling engagement
• Can municipalities design campaigns that cater to their
diverse communities? Should they? Can they “offload”
this responsibility to others?