1 research outputs found
Understanding the Support for Municipal Green Bin Programs
As food waste increases globally, many cities have implemented curbside collection of food waste (aka green bin programs) to divert food waste from landfills. However, not all municipalities in Ontario have green bin programs. A factor responsible for the adoption of green bin programs is the community support for the program. The study results are based on 407 completed surveys from randomly selected households in London, Ontario (a municipality without a green bin program) and Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario (a municipality with a green bin program). Surveys were used to collect data to understand: i) the predictors of household green bin support and, ii) the difference in green bin support between both cities. Household food wasting and waste diversion variables were used to predict green bin support. As hypothesized, food wasting, and waste diversion variables were able to predict green bin support and Kitchener-Waterloo respondents were more supportive than those from London. Concern for environmental impact, convenience and norms favouring green bin use were the strongest predictors of green bin support in all three models (Kitchener-Waterloo, London and pooled sample). Composting, amount of food wasted, good provider identity, personal norms against food wasting, and food waste education were predictors in two models (London and pooled sample) while age was only a predictor one model (pooled sample). Municipalities looking to improve green bin support should consider educating their residents on food waste reduction and future research should investigate whether green bin support translates to green bin behaviour