The role of waste pickers in individual waste separation behavior

This study examines the role of waste pickers in individual waste separation behavior. Given the environmental and economic importance of waste separation, this behavior has been extensively studied, but the influence of waste pickers—who perform waste separation as a livelihood, potentially substituting for the voluntary efforts expected from individuals—has been overlooked. Using stratified random sampling in İzmir, Turkey, we collected data from 670 individuals to test our hypotheses via the factor score regression method. The results validated our hypothesis that individuals with positive attitudes toward waste pickers intend to help them by separating and providing recyclable materials. However, we could not validate our hypotheses that positive individual attitudes toward waste pickers decrease individuals’ sense of responsibility for separating waste, which consequently weakens the impacts of commonly studied factors (e.g., personal attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control effectiveness) on individual waste separation behavior. Our post-analysis revealed that a positive attitude toward waste pickers leads to greater individual responsibility through the intention to help, which then weakens the effects of personal attitude and perceived behavioral control on waste separation intention and behavior. By considering the role of waste pickers, our study advances the understanding of individual waste separation behavior in contexts where informal recycling activities are prevalent. Our findings have important implications for policymakers seeking to optimize waste management systems by leveraging the contributions of waste pickers.