Recycling waste has become important for Americans due to a large amount of trash, such as plastic bottles from water, produced by the citizens. However, recycling is possible only after the waste has been separated based on the type of material used. This paper is a brief summary of the article by O’Connor et al. (2010) titled “Effects of number and location of bins on plastic recycling at a university.” Additionally, in this paper, the results of this study will be discussed from the viewpoint of the class material and readings. Recycling practices among students can be enhanced if the universities utilize behavioral sciences and change the location of the recycling bins across the campuses.
In summary, in the article “Effects of number and location of bins on plastic recycling at a university,” the authors O’Connor et al. (2010) discuss the relevance of the practices that aim to enhance adherence to the recommendations for sorting the trash that can later be recycled. The goal was to manipulate the number of recycling bins, their location, and the signs indicating that there are recycling bins at this facility to determine which practices are best used to encourage students to recycle more. The outcome of this study shows that students recycle more when the recycling bins are located in the classrooms.
The authors also tested other strategies, including the use of signs indicating the places for recycling and changing the number of bins per facility. However, the only intervention that has been effective was the placement of the receptors near the exits from classrooms, which is a conclusion that supports some of the basic theories of behavioral science. Hence, this shows that there are ways of enhancing the adherence to the practices of recycling among college students if the recycling bins are situated appropriately across classrooms.
This article relates to the class material because it is based on the behavioral sciences and the basic principles, and the understanding of the motivation drivers. For example, O’Connor et al. (2010) state that the appropriate practices can help address some of the issues related to the rates of recycling. Moreover, previous studies have shown that the number of bottles placed into the recycling receptacles can be increased with appropriate behavioral interventions. One example is placing the recycling bins close to the places where people typically consume the product, which is one of the interventions that O’Connor et al. (2010) tested. Despite the results of this study, the authors acknowledge several limitations that might have affected the outcomes and, therefore, should be considered when implementing this type of intervention in real life.
The article in question relates to the course material as it discusses some of the basic principles of human behavior. Mainly, the intervention that O’Connor et al. (2010) offer is based on the idea that it is easier for people to put a used bottle into the recycling receptor when those are located close to spaces where this water will be consumed.
Hence, the recycling behavior depends on how easy it is to engage in it. Other articles, such as the one by the University of British Columbia (2017), also have found that making the recycling process easier significantly boosts the outcome of recycling. Mainly, by moving the recycling bins closer to the doors, the authors were able to increase the number of waste put for recycling or compositing (University of British Columbia, 2017). Therefore, this shows that studying human behavior can help understand how small changes to public spaces can result in the desired behaviors.
Similar suggestions were offered by other experts in behavioral sciences. For example, Yale Sustainability (n.d.) suggests putting signs near the recycling bins, as it increases the visibility of these objects. This is another aspect studied by behavioral scientists since visibility is an evident prompt for a designated behavior. Moreover, Yale Sustainability (n.d.) states that “for every trash bin, there should be a recycling bin next to it” (para. 10). Hence, behavioral sciences, as demonstrated by the article in question and other research studies, can serve as an important indicator for the small changes that can have a serious impact on the way groups of people act, which can help achieve important sustainability goals.
In summary, the paper “Effects of number and location of bins on plastic recycling at a university” shows that understanding the basics of human behavior and motivation can help address important causes, such as increasing the amount of plastic submitted for recycling. This article relates to the course material because it shows the practical application of the principles of the behavioral sciences and how these can be applied to influence certain behaviors.
For example, the authors have proven that placing recycling receptors close to the points of use, such as classrooms where students often drink water, is an effective method for increasing the number of plastic bottles placed into these recycling receptors. This paper summarized the article and discussed its connection to the class materials and topics discussed in this course.
References
O’Connor, R. T., Lerman, D. C., Fritz, J. N., & Hodde, H. B. (2010). Effects of number and location of bins on plastic recycling at a university. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 43(4), 711–715. Web.
The University of British Columbia. (2017). Making bins more convenient boosts recycling and composting rates. ScienceDaily. Web.
Yale Sustainability. (n.d.). Best practices for signage and bins. Yale. Web.