Depositing waste in ‘certain place’ at ‘certain time’: Does this policy improve recycling performance?

Food waste produces methane in landfills, accounting for 1.5–2.0% of net global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions 2010. In developing countries 40–65% household can be food waste, especially from preparation, since pre-prepared is less common. Different management strategies are used worldwide to get householders separate out their including the restriction permitted times and places depositing (e.g. 6–7pm daily at kerbside, only). Here we evaluate a Certain Time, Place (CTCP) intervention across sample six communities randomly allocated cohort one district Shanghai. Mixed methods used, with directly-measured tonnages pre- post-implementation, site observations open interviews stakeholders elicit perceived relevant factors. Quantitative results show no statistically significant impact on sorting performance. Relevant themes which emerged are: time period arrangements; supervision stations; attitude assistant cleaners. These shown related known determinants Inconvenience, Role clarification, Positive interactions. Action Planning Stakeholder Engagement suggested as mitigators but Distance not found relevant. Such deconstruction policy elements into scientific factors allows clear perspective: that this CTCP program was almost pure CT only, increased Inconvenience without giving overall benefits increasing supervision. Only community had CP involved, its performance significantly, suggesting should studied further. sum, Place, Time recycling actually CT, recommended The more direct linking useful better future design.