Public participation in designing a recycling scheme towards maximum public acceptance

This contribution looks into the pro-recycling attitudes of the community of Didimoticho, a typical Greek provincial town; it further makes use of the insights gained in order to suggest how a recycling scheme could be designed so as to maximize public acceptance. Therefore, the factors that affect participation attitudes and the factors associated with recycling programme characteristics considered appropriate and convenient for the town in question were explored. This paper presents the results of a fully structured questionnaire filled in by 343 participants, all of them were town residents. Responses were given to research questions concerning particular components of implementation such as what materials the residents are willing to recycle; how many recycling bins or bags could be located at home; the type of collection of separated waste; what economic incentives should be imposed; how responsibility for the collection of recyclables should be shared among relevant agencies. Public participation in designing a recycling scheme has not been common practice so far.

► Public participation in designing a recycling scheme. ► Analysis of data collected from a typical provincial town without a recycling scheme. ► Proposed strategy for a potential intervention in recycling programme implementation. ► The methodology approach could inform decision making authorities so as to optimize their strategies.