Spatial differentiation and driving mechanisms of urban household waste separation behavior in Shanghai, China

Based on the theory of planned behavior, numerous driving forces of separation behavior have been demonstrated; however, spatial differentiation and information behavior warrant further investigation. This study focused on examining how internal factors (e.g., subjective norms, perceived behavioral control), external factors (e.g., perceived effectiveness of grass-roots governance (PGE), information publicity (IP)), and spatial differentiation factors affected waste separation behavior (WSB) in residents. Accordingly, a theoretical model was constructed to analyze 2555 valid questionnaires collected from 16 districts in Shanghai, revealing the following results: (1) Subjective norms and perceived behavioral control indirectly affect WSB only through offline behavioral intentions; (2) PGE and IP have direct and indirect effects on WSB through both on-and offline behavioral intentions; and, (3) Under the moderating effects of house prices and age in megacities, PGE and IP exhibited irregular and U-shaped effects, respectively. In addition, the results indicate spatial differences in WSB as a function of the neighborhood (stranger, acquaintance, and semi-acquaintance neighborhoods) and as a driving mechanism (weak mobilization-strong participation, strong mobilization-strong participation, and strong mobilization-weak participation). These findings provide a reference for formulating targeted waste separation policies, improving social mobilization mechanisms, ensuring timely information dissemination, and achieving sustainable household WSB.

Automated summary

Based on the analysis of 2555 valid questionnaires collected from 16 districts in Shanghai, this study found that subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, perceived effectiveness of grass-roots governance, and information publicity had different effects on waste separation behavior in residents. Additionally, the study identified the importance of spatial differentiation and driving mechanisms in waste separation behavior.