Alremeithi, A A; Riaz, Z and Khan, M (2025) What constitutes citizens' recycling behavior: Insights from handling municipal solid waste in the UAE. Smart and Sustainable Built Environment, 14(4), pp. 1017-1037. ISSN 2046-6099
Abstract
Purpose: This paper aims to investigate recycling behavior (RB) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to identify factors in the lack of citizen participation in recycling and to form strategies to raise awareness of and encourage positive recycling practices. Design/methodology/approach: Based on stakeholder theory, a panel of 15 experts and 15 families was interviewed to develop a model of seven constructs and their 29 indicators. Based on the responses generated, a questionnaire was developed and tested. The survey was distributed to 106 waste management professionals. Their responses regarding the influence of regulatory promotion tactics, awareness raising, situational facilitators, motivators and synergistic habits on citizens' RB were analyzed using the structural equation modeling technique. Findings: Several factors govern the citizens' behavior regarding recycling municipal solid waste in the UAE. The most significant governing determinants of RB observed were laws and regulations, willingness to sort and recycle and benefits of recycling. Seven constructs and their 29 indicators were studied, and the findings indicated that strategies such as creating awareness, introducing operative waste control facilities and implementing fines and regulations could improve RB in the UAE. The structural model showcased a relationship between the primary constructs and RB; hence, these constructs can directly affect waste management. Originality/value: To support these findings, validation of the results from other countries and contrasting employees' RB is needed. The present study draws empirical insights into RB from a stakeholder perspective, which could be compared to RB across other cultures and countries.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | nvivo; recycling; recycling behaviour; structural equation modelling; United Arab Emirates; waste management |
| Index terms: | facilitator, recycling, promotion, operative, determinant, motivator, survey, strategy, structural equation modelling, recycle, habit, United Arab Emirates, questionnaire, validation, waste management, regulation, citizen participation, municipal solid waste, methodology |
| Subjects: | research methods, Geography, waste management, practitioner, health behaviours and lifestyles, psychology, management, professional development, statistical analysis, political science, data collection methods, risk assessment, participation process |
| Topics: | Information Management, Research Practice, Business Strategy, Governance, Roles and Professions, Stakeholder Management, Human Resources, Geographical Context, Sustainability, Risk Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
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