Categorization and Waste Management: More Complex Recycling Systems Lead to Less Wasting
(A2024-119662)

AUTHORS

Martina Cossu, University of Bocconi; Elena Bocchi, Bayes Business School (formerly Cass), City University of London; Irene Scopelliti, City, University of London

ABSTRACT

Every year over 2.24 billion tons of waste reach landfills globally (United Nations, 2023), posing a significant threat to environmental, social, and personal wellbeing. Efforts to mitigate landfill contributions by facilitating recycling face challenges due to a lack of consensus on what is the most effective recycling system to minimize waste in terms of level of complexity. Three preregistered studies reveal that the complexity of a recycling system—whether it involves a narrow categorization (e.g., paper, plastic, metal, glass) versus a broader categorization (e.g., recyclables)—influences individual recycling behavior. Surprisingly, broader categorizations lead to increased tendency to waste. In contrast, narrower categorizations promote overzealous recycling, causing contamination in the recycling supply chain. Our findings offer valuable insights for policymakers and a scalable intervention to mitigate both errors, resulting in more effective recycling.