Increasing recycling behaviors through user-centered design

Recycling bins are grossly underutilized products as well as being often misused. The EPA estimates that while 75 percent of Americans trash contents can be recycled, only 25 percent actually is [3]. In addition, contamination of recyclables, either from food items or other non-recyclables, is a widespread problem. In Washington University, for example, almost 70 percent of material contents in recycling bins are deemed unusable due to contamination [6]. Three factors that greatly affect recycling behaviors are awareness, convenience, and opportunity. Using observational and interview data, and informed by the literature, we present here our preliminary findings regarding user recycling behaviors. From this data we have developed a holistic solution to help increase purposeful recycling behaviors on a college campus.