Application of the health belief and community-based models to changing recycling behaviors and assessing participation rates augmented with GPS/GIS

The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of interventions based on health promotion theories in changing the recycling behavior of the targeted population. The study focused on the development and evaluation of innovative recycling education programs that address energy recovery, global warming, carbon dioxide offset, ground water protection, pollution, resource protection, and waste management. This quasi-experimental study applied selected health promotion theories and models (Health Belief Model-[HBM] and Community Based Model- [CBM]) as an approach to motivate recycling behaviors augmented with GPS/GIS technology and to evaluate the impact of the applied approaches on recycling set-out rates and participation.

A total of 281 households from a Midwestern city participated in this study. The study was conducted over a period of six months. A Likert scaled questionnaire was used to collect data on recycling and environmental knowledge, skills, behavior, and attitudes. Results indicated a significant increase in average set out rates among HBM participants (21.34 lbs. pre-test to 59.3 lbs post-test) than CBM and control participants with an ANCOVA test indicating a significant difference between the groups during pre- and post-interventions (F (5, 127) = 10.29, p = .0001). Similarly, significant change in knowledge, desire to recycle and manage waste, and attitude shift were observed more among HBM participants than among control and CBM participants.

It was concluded, HBM approach can be effective in motivating recycling more than CBM, however, CBM approach can be effective in changing behavior, attitude, and knowledge if used for a long period of time.