Grantee Research Project Results

1998 Progress Report: Promoting Proper Use of a Household Hazardous Waste Facility: A System Approach

EPA Grant Number: R825827
Title: Promoting Proper Use of a Household Hazardous Waste Facility: A System Approach
Investigators: Werner, Carol M.
Institution: University of Utah
EPA Project Officer: Chung, Serena
Project Period: October 1, 1997 through December 31, 1998 (Extended to June 30, 2001)
Project Period Covered by this Report: October 1, 1997 through December 31, 1998
Project Amount: $128,211
RFA: Decision-Making and Valuation for Environmental Policy (1997) RFA Text |  Recipients Lists
Research Category: Environmental Justice

Objective:

The general purpose of the project is to reduce pressure on household hazardous waste (HHW) facilities by reducing the amount of HHW being discarded. This is consistent with policies developed by the Salt Lake City/County Health Department, with whom we are working. The objectives are to: (1) Develop educational materials that encourage the use of effective alternative nontoxic products, while treating toxic chemical products as a "last resort option" (used when the nontoxic products are inadequate). (2) Develop programs to teach residents to use "product exchanges," so that they share leftover chemical products with friends rather than disposing of them. We encourage people to share purchases so that any products can be used up by the group rather than being stored away. (3) Teach proper storage practices that keep chemicals out of the reach of children and pets while maintaining their viability (e.g., storing in basement rather than garage so that products do not freeze and lose their effectiveness). (4) Educate people about the HHW facility and free reuse center.

Progress Summary:

Experiment 1: Description and Objectives of Research. One purpose of the experiment was to develop effective brochures for use in the subsequent study. The second and primary purpose was to ask whether positive phenomenal experiences mediate between attitudes and long-term behavior change. Positive phenomenal experiences include people describing tasks as "interesting," "fun," or saying "it just feels good to help." (Sansone's research shows that if people have a reason to persist at a boring or unpleasant task (i.e., have strong attitudes favoring), they will reconstrue the task to make it appear more positive. These positive experiences and positive reconstruals are thought to be the basis of long-term behavior change. We hypothesized that our attitude change manipulations would set in motion this reconstrual process, and people would come to enjoy using nontoxic alternatives.

For Experiment 1, more than 300 potential participants were contacted and useable materials were received from more than 250 of them. Eight versions of the materials were made to create different levels of persuasiveness. All participants were contacted by telephone (some by mail) to ascertain whether they had tried any nontoxic alternatives since the first mailing. This phone call also measured their phenomenal experiences with the nontoxic alternatives (e.g., some enjoyed the clean fragrance of baking soda compared with the odors of ammonia-based cleaners). Six months later, all participants were sent a final questionnaire to determine whether they had tried additional nontoxics (i.e., whether there was long-term behavioral change). We are still receiving the followup postcards and data still are being analyzed.

Study 1: Description and Objectives of Research. The purpose of this study was to see if we could work effectively with church groups on a household toxics reduction program. We wanted to develop a program that: (a) would be a self-sustaining program, requiring little followup work from the county; and (b) would result in long-term reductions in the use of toxic products (i.e., long-term behavioral change). Another goal of the study was to develop educational materials that other county health departments could use to organize waste-reduction groups in their local communities. Churches were contacted and asked to: (1) distribute the brochure developed in Experiment 1, so that people would learn about nontoxic alternatives and proper disposal of toxic leftovers; (2) organize a product exchange to reduce waste (sharing of leftovers, sharing of new purchases); and (3) learn more about integrated pest management (each church received a book with instructions and pictures of beneficial and harmful insects).

For Study 1, nearly 400 churches were contacted and approximately 50 have committed to the project. We have been unable to reach many ministers, in part because our policy is not to bother them on days of worship. We offered contests with free publicity for the churches, but the response to date has been muted. We are continuing to contact everyone (even those who refused) with additional opportunities (e.g., an "enjoying nature at home" essay contest). The Liaison, a newsletter for Liaisons sharing successes and activities from other churches, is being published.

Future Activities:

Study 1: Approximately 8 months after initial contact, followup interviews are being conducted with about 60 churches (20 refusers, 20 low successful, and 20 high successful) to gather their impressions of the program, their impressions of their congregations' success, their plans for the future, and their suggestions for methods to involve more people and more churches in similar programs. Based on these interviews, we are expanding the program into other settings. The City/County Health Department has just released a video about household hazardous products that we are presenting to church groups. We are trying to build local awareness about HHW through publicity releases, newspaper interviews, and word-of-mouth contacts. We are sponsoring a second K?12 essay/drawing contest through the local school systems, and a second adult essay contest through local media advertising (results of the first contest will be published in a local newspaper next month).

Journal Articles:

No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 16 publications for this project

Supplemental Keywords:

psychology of behavior change, household hazardous waste, attitude change, intrinsic motivation, behavioral self-regulation, reference groups, churches, K?12 education, pollution prevention., RFA, Scientific Discipline, Geographic Area, Waste, Economic, Social, & Behavioral Science Research Program, Hazardous, Economics & Decision Making, State, Economics, decision-making, Hazardous Waste, Social Science, Psychology, Ecology and Ecosystems, benefits assessment, household hazardous waste, source reduction, valuing environmental quality, hazardous waste disposal, belief system, social impact analysis, standards of value, hazardous substance disposal, hazardous waste management, hazardous waste treatment, community involvement, incentives, behavior change, environmental values, human activities, decision analysis, psychological attitudes, social psychology, valuation, hazardous waste site, environmental ethics, hazardous waste facility, environmental policy, preference formation, outreach and education

Progress and Final Reports:

Original Abstract

1999 Progress Report

2000

Final Report