Behind Recycling Policies: An Exploratory Study on Psychological and Contextual Determinants of Waste Sorting Behaviour at University

Improper waste disposal has environmental and socio-economic costs, yet policies to address this issue often fail to effectively promote recycling. Much previous research has focused on household recycling, overlooking the fact that people spend much of their time in public spaces, where behaviours and barriers differ. This study examines the psychological and contextual determinants of waste-sorting behaviour among individuals studying and working at the University of Florence, adopting the Fogg Behavioural Model (FBM) as the guiding theoretical framework. Using a mixed-methods approach, we combined quantitative survey data from 482 participants with qualitative insights collected through open-ended responses to identify both barriers and facilitators of sorting behaviour in public spaces. The survey assessed antecedents such as self- and collective efficacy, social and personal norms, trust in the recycling process, and contextual obstacles. Results show that sorting behaviour is positively associated with norms, trust, and efficacy beliefs, and negatively influenced by contextual barriers such as limited access to recycling stations and unclear labelling. The qualitative findings further highlight the need for improved visibility, clearer signage, and expanded waste fractions on campus. Overall, the study underscores that effective recycling in public settings requires addressing both psychological drivers and structural barriers. In collaboration with the University’s Green Office and the local waste management provider, these findings will inform future policy design and implementation, with potential applicability to other public institutions.