A lot of people just don’t recycle. While there may be a temptation to imagine them as conspiring Earth Haters who take orders directly from Skeletor, they are usually normal people who try to contribute positively to society in other ways.
They are members of our family, our neighbors and our friends. So what makes them choose to bypass the blue bin?
We investigated five individuals who do not regularly recycle. A better understanding of their “why” can help proponents of recycling better understand the “how” of what can be done to increase participation.
Editor’s note: Names have been changed to encourage participants to be candid.
The twenty-something bachelor
Meet Matt, a recent business college graduate living in Utah. While adapting to his new job, Matt is also preparing to invest in his first home, not to mention finding a nice young lady with whom he can settle down. He gives five reasons for not recycling.