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Attitudes and Household Characteristics Influencing Solid Waste Generation: A Household Garbage Analysis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 May 2017

Donald J. Epp
Affiliation:
The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
Paul C. Mauger
Affiliation:
The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
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Abstract

A survey of household decision-makers and an analysis of their garbage was used to suggest factors affecting the weight of household contributions to municipal solid waste. Iterative regression was used to build a model from the data that is hypothesized to explain garbage weight. Food expenditure, environmental attitude, consumption of soft drinks in plastic bottles, and cats in the household were significant for all households. Self-sufficiency and energy-conscious behavioral scales also affected the subgroup with female householders having an educational level of high school graduation or less.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © 1989 Northeastern Agricultural and Resource Economics Association 

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Footnotes

We gratefully acknowledge the helpful comments of C. A. Hamlett, J. S. Shortle and two anonymous journal referees. Paper No. 8123 in the Journal Series of the Pennsylvania Agricultural Experiment Station.

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