EFFECT OF DESIGN VARIABLES ON PARTICIPATION IN RESIDENTIAL CURBSIDE RECYCLING PROGRAMS

This research examines how each of the design variables associated wit h the design of residential curbside recycling programs affects the pa rticipation rate, as well as the effect of interactions between the va riables. The evaluation of each design variable includes a literature review and an analysis of the results of six published surveys of curb side recycling programs. The results of this research show that there is no single ideal design for residential curbside recycling programs, but that a variety of combinations of design variables have proven to be successful. This suggests that when designing a recycling program, the costs, needs and goals of the community should be significant fac tors while taking into consideration the effect of some design variabl e options on participation. Based on these results, four residential c urbside recycling programs were designed: two to maximize participatio n rates without significant regard to cost; and the other two with the goal of achieving a balance between participation rate and program co st. (C) 1997 ISWA.