Three waste management behaviors (waste reduction, reuse, and recycling)
were examined with the use of a conceptual framework developed by the
author. It was posited that environmental values, situational characteristics,
and psychological factors all play a significant role in the prediction of waste
management behavior, within the context of a core intention-behavior relationship.
The framework was tested in a self-report questionnaire of 673 residents
of Exeter, UK. It was found that the predictors of reduction, reuse, and
recycling behavior differed significantly, with reduction and reuse being predicted
by underlying environmental values, knowledge, and concern-based
variables. Recycling behavior was, in contrast, characterized as highly normative
behavior. The use of the approach taken for investigating other environmental
behaviors is examined.