Household behavior and attitudes regarding diversion of organic material from the municipal solid waste stream : a case study of Knox County, Tennessee

Management of municipal solid waste (MSW) has become increasingly important in recent decades. Solid waste officials are often forced to take progressive steps in the areas of waste diversion and source reduction in order to offset the increasing amount of MSW currently being generated.

While much research has focused on recycling programs, composting programs have the potential to increase diversion rates drastically. Composting has long been underutilized as a relatively cost effective strategy for diverting organic wastes. Estimates show that up to 60 percent of the residential waste stream is potentially compostable. Aggressive composting programs can thus divert a substantial fraction of MSW from landfills. Yard waste alone has been estimated to account for 17.6 percent of the weight of municipal solid waste nationally (Franklin Associates, 1990).

The overall objective of this research project was to analyze the current situation in Knox County, Tennessee with respect to solid waste management in general, and diversion of organic matter in particular. Specific objectives were: (1) to identify and describe the current behavior and attitudes of households living in single-family residences in Knox County with respect to generation, diversion, and disposal of waste materials, especially organic matter (2) to measure attitudes toward, familiarity with, and expected behavioral responses to the following policy options for increasing the diversion of organic matter: (a) educational programs (e.g., to encourage backyard composting) (b) regulatory actions (e.g., landfill ban of yard wastes) (c) incentive strategies (e.g., unit-pricing systems of solid waste disposal) (3) to identify factors associated with residents' backyard composting behavior The information used in this study was gained through a telephone survey of Knox County residents living in single-family detached dwellings. The total sample size was 865, including 400 City of Knoxville households and 465 households residing outside the city limits.

Valuable information was gained about Knox County residents' solid waste disposal patterns, as well as their attitudes and perceptions toward solid waste issues. A conceptual model was developed in an attempt to identify factors influencing the probability that residents participate in composting behavior. A logit regression procedure was used to estimate the models for composting tree and shrub trimmings, grass, food, leaves, and composting in general.