Using the TDF to inform an intervention to promote workplace recycling. Susan Michie

Transcription

1 Using the TDF to inform an intervention to promote workplace recycling Susan Michie Professor of Health Psychology Director of Centre for Behaviour Change with Richard Jackson, Kate Sheals, Lou Atkins BPS Health Psychology, York,

2 Acknowledgements Principal Investigator: Susan Michie Main collaborator: Richard Jackson, Head of Environmental Sustainability Researchers: Lou Atkins, Kate Sheals, Heather Gainforth, Helena Rubinstein Collaborators: Tony Overbury (Sustainability Manager, Waste and Resources); Paul Monk (Disposal of Hazardous Waste Technician, Estates Division); Jonathan Smith (Managing Director, Office and General); Carl O Neill (Senior Business Manager, Bywaters Recycling and Resources Management Services) Statistical analysis: Dr Emma Beard, UCL Funding: UCL Grand Challenges for Human Wellbeing

3 Background 50% of UK waste is sent to landfill (DEFRA 2011) Carbon emissions Aesthetic impact 25% of waste generated by a major London university sent to landfill BUT variability: 0-100% across buildings Recycling schemes becoming more widespread but few using behavioural theory to understand relevant behaviours (Werner et al, 1998; 2009)

4 Estates department intervention at university The intervention Launch day with staffed information desk New system of signage and bin positions In one building Similar building as control Evaluation Waste weighed 2 weeks pre and 8 weeks post implementation No difference between intervention and control: Amount of waste in bins for recycling Amount of waste in bins for general waste

5 Study aim To understand why the use of recycling and general waste bins did not improve after the Estates department s intervention

6 Method 20 building users recruited from intervention site by posters, , opportunistic on-site; incentivised with small gift and prize draw Sample Mean age 31 years 11 women, 9 men 9 staff, 6 postgraduate, 5 undergraduate

7 Theoretical framework: COM-B model Michie et al, 2011, Implementation Science

8 Theoretical Domains Framework: elaboration of COM-B Michie et al, 2005 Cane et al, 2011

9 Example interview questions COM-B TDF Domain Question Psychological capability Knowledge Memory, attention and decision processes Please tick which of the following you think can be recycled in this building s recycling facilities: Paper Glass Empty aluminium steel cans Hazardous waste Toner cartridges What efforts have you noticed to promote recycling at UCL? Reflective motivation Automatic motivation Physical opportunity Social opportunity Beliefs about consequences Beliefs about capabilities Goals Social/professional role and identity Intention Environmental context and resources Social influences What impact do you hope or believe recycling at UCL has? How easy do you think it is to recycle? To what extent is recycling a priority for you? Do you think of yourself as someone who is: a committed recycler, casual recycler, not bothered either way about recycling? Is recycling something you generally intend to do? Would you say that generally you are in the habit of recycling? When you needed one, how often have you had access to a recycling bin? Do you feel you recycle more when other people are around than you do when you are alone? Or the same?

10 Number of times domain mentioned ECR = Environmental Context and Resources SPRI = Social Professional Role and Identity MADP = Memory, Attention and Decision Processes Results: Domain frequencies

11 Facilitators of recycling Beliefs about consequences Environmental benefits (mentioned by 95% participants) It should hopefully improve on the environment and reduce kind of just waste, I guess. (HR2) [Recycling has] an enormous impact. you waste less resources, that sort of thing. You reduce energy costs... better for the economy, better for the environment. (HG2-2) Concerns about contamination (mentioned by 45% participants) I ll hold onto the general waste because I think it s just making things difficult for people if, if you do that; it defeats the purpose of having a recycle bin. (U2) Well, I think it's quite harmful It's not going to be good. You contaminate stuff.. (HG2-1)

12 Facilitators of recycling Intention to recycle (mentioned by 95% participants) I mean, it s always also, of course, the question about how much people want to recycle. (H3) I think I go an extra bit to make sure that it s right. (H4)

13 Barriers to recycling Beliefs about consequences Uncertainty of consequences (mentioned by 75% participants) I m not sure how much material that gets put in a recycling bin gets recycled. And whether the resource that goes into recycling.is actually benefitting the environment (K3) I ve heard some people say that recycling is not actually generally that good, because so much manpower and energy and pollution is made (H1) Environmental context and resources Availability and proximity of resources for recycling (mentioned by 100% participants) I really try not to [put recycling into a general waste bin], but in some cases where there s no recycle bin here you have no choice. (U2) I don t recycle if] I don t have the facility to do that, at the given point where I have the waste, and, yes, where I am at that time. (H3)

14 Barriers to recycling Intention not to recycle (mentioned by 35% participants) [I don t recycle] because I perhaps can t be bothered. (HG2-2) In my lazy moments, as I say, with the lunch business, I actually, at work, I don t really want to fiddle about with washing out my plastic bag, and recycling it. (K4) Knowledge Procedural knowledge of what can be recycled and where (mentioned by 90% participants) Okay, we have these three bins, one blue, one brown, one green. But I don t really know what goes in each. H6 Some subtleties come...pop up, like what do I do with my empty coffee cup? Is that food? Food contaminated container, or is it just a container? H3

15 Facilitator and barrier interaction Intention (facilitator) X Environmental Context/ Resources (barrier) I ll recycle if it s easy (mentioned by 65% participants) I would want to recycle, but it isn t also that I m willing to walk more than half a mile with my something that, you know, requires a special bin. (H3) I will definitely do it, but if I don't see anything around, then I don't. I wouldn't spend a huge amount of time and effort to ask and make sure that I put things in the right bin. (H2)

16 Next steps Use the Behaviour Change Wheel (Michie et al. 2011) to select appropriate intervention functions and policy categories Co-design an intervention with input from Building users - green champions Environmental Sustainability Team - Centre for Behaviour Change Refine after user-testing Secure further funding Implement and evaluate co-designed intervention

17 For more information Susan Michie Books UCL Centre for Behaviour Change

18 Supplementary slides

19 Closed Questions When you have needed one, how often have you had access to a recycling bin? (19) All of the time Most or all of the time Most of the time Half of the time Rarely 42.1% (8) 5.3% (1) 42.1% (8) 5.3% (1) 5.3% (1) When you have needed one, how often have you had access to a general waste bin? (19) All of the time Most or all of the time Most of the time Half of the time Rarely Never Unsure 36.8% (7) 5.3% (1) 26.3% (5) 10.5% (2) 5.3% (1) 5.3% (1) 5.3% (1) Do you think of yourself as a committed recycler, a casual recycler or not bothered either way? (20) Committed Bit less than committed Casual Not bothered either way 50% (10) 5% (1) 35% (7) 10% (2) Do you think most of your colleagues are committed recyclers, casual recyclers or not bothered either way? (15) Committed We re all pretty good Some committed Casual Casual or not bothered Not bothered either way 20% (3) 6.7% (1) 6.7% (1) 4% (6) 13.3% (2) 13.3% (2)

20 Closed Questions Is recycling something that you generally intend to do? (18) Yes No 94.4% (17) 5.6% (1) On a scale of 1 7, how effortful do you feel it is to recycle your waste on a daily basis in UCL? (19) Mean Range Would you say that you are generally in the habit of recycling? (17) Yes Ish Trying to be No 76.5% (13) 5.9% (1) 5.9% (1) 11.8% (2) Do you feel you recycle more when other people are around than you do when you are alone? (18) Yes 33.3% (6) 66.7% (12) No

21 Knowledge of Drayton House Recycling Facilities Yes (%/n) No (%/n) Can be recycled Paper 100% Empty aluminium steel cans 80% 16 20% 4 Empty drink cartons 70% 14 30% 6 Empty plastic bottles 80% 16 20% 4 Card 95% 19 5% 1 Empty plastic/ cardboard cups 80% 16 20% 4 Separate food caddies but taken for incineration with non-recyclable waste Tea leaves/coffee grounds 40% 8 60% 12 Leftover food 65% 13 35% 7 Confectionary 85% 7 65% 13 Cut flowers/plants 40% 8 60% 12 Non-recyclable Glass 60% 12 40% 8 Hazardous waste 5% 1 95% 19 Toner cartridges 50% 10 50% 10 Food contaminated packaging 40% 8 60% 12 Recyclables with contaminated food 35% 7 65% 13 Crisp packets 40% 8 60% 12 Sweet wrappers 40% 8 60% 12 Polystyrene 15% 3 85% 17