How Does Wealth Affect Someone’s Tendency To Recycle?

There are several studies that support statement that wage of the person and his professional background affect the intention of the individual to recycle. Some studies report that people who are paid an hourly wage are reluctant to recycle in comparison to the attitude of the employees engaged at workplace for certain salary. The lasts group of people presume that recycling looks like professional activity and should be properly compensated. According to the outcomes of the study performed by British Household Panel Survey, people are not interested to be engaged in the environmental behaviour if they receive payment by hour (Understandingsociety.ac.uk, 2017). In fact, some people report that they do not have enough time to recycle, while the other people are too engaged with several other activities and can not waste energy for collection and processing of the old materials (Homeguides.sfgate.com, 2017).

Numerous scholars attempt to understand the determinants of recycling behaviour of different racial groups. However, there is no sufficient information in support of the fact that recycling behaviour may be explained with reference to specific factors. When examining recycling behaviour within Brazilian people, it is highly important to pay attention to the effects of the birth country of the person and his position in the community. The responses of the participants to the designed questionnaires show that in case people were born in Brazil, they are not likely to show pro-environmental behaviour. This conclusion takes roots from the previous studies, where scholars compare behaviour of white people and Hispanic groups (Pearson, Dawson and Radecki Breitkopf, 2012).

There are following questionnaires that were designed specifically for collection of the information about recycling behaviour of the members of Brazilian community:

1. How often do you recycle?
• Never
• Rarely
• Often
• Always

2. What are the challenges that arise before you with recycling of the materials?
• I am not aware of the recycling opportunities in Brazil.
• Although I am familiar with the presence of some recycling opportunities in Brazil, I should admit that there are no proper recommendations and instructions pertaining to the recycling of the materials in this region.
• I feel that members of Brazilian community do not have proper access to the information about location of the recycling bins.
• I do not have proper motivation to recycle because there are no benefits of this activity.

3. What is your sex?
• Female
• Male
4. What is your age?

• 18-25
• 26-34
• 35-45
• 46-55
• 56-60.
5. What is your profession and social position in Brazilian community?

• Student
• Ordinary employee
• Business man
• Unemployed
• Medical professional

6. What is your monthly income?
• Less than 300$
• 300-500$
• 500-1000$
• 1000$ and more

This paper concerns the analysis of the recycling attitudes and behaviour among some categories of people in Brazil. The paper addresses that attitudes and behaviour pertaining to the voluntary recycling in the population of low-income people in Brazil. Participants (N=60) at the age group 18-60 completed relevant self-report assessment and provides their responses to household recycling behaviour, their awareness of the recycling. Approximately half of the respondents stated that they usually conduct recycling. In addition, almost all people from their environment tend to recycle in support of the environmental protection of their communities.

The participants to this study provided anonymous responses to the questionnaires in order to avoid any disclosure of the information about behaviour of the person towards recycling of the materials. The processing of the responses to the questionnaires shows that among 60 participants, 75% of them were females. In addition, 56% of the respondents confirmed the fact that they are interested and engaged in the promotion of the recycling activities as it allows to preserve environment and keep nature. Moreover, 45% of the respondents appeared at the age group between 35-45. With that, the same group of people claimed that they are engaged in recycling activities. This fact reveals that adults are much more interested to develop environmental behaviour while young people are not ready for it. Hence, it is clear that young people living in Brazil require time to develop necessary skills in order to have desire to be environmentally friendly towards several activities, including recycling of the materials. Meanwhile, 77% of the respondents state that they feel lack of knowledge about availability of the recycling bins. Furthermore, 32% of the participants stated that they are no aware of the actual benefits of this activity. Therefore, one should agree that this information should be properly communicated within the territory of Brazil in order to enhance proper recycling behaviour there. In conclusion, it should be noted that the people with low-income status confirmed that they do not understand importance of the recycling. In turn, business leaders and people with higher income stated that recycling is an important part of daily routine they conduct. Hence, this study proves that such factors as age, status and income of the person influence the development of the environmentally friendly behaviour of the person.

• Homeguides.sfgate.com. (2017). Effects of Recycling on Humans. [online] Available at: http://homeguides.sfgate.com/effects-recycling-humans-79735.html [Accessed 28 Oct. 2017].
• Pearson, H., Dawson, L. and Radecki Breitkopf, C. (2012). Recycling Attitudes and Behavior among a Clinic-Based Sample of Low-Income Hispanic Women in Southeast Texas. PLoS ONE, 7(4), p.e34469.
• Understandingsociety.ac.uk. (2017). How does your income affect your recycling habits? – Understanding Society. [online] Available at: https://www.understandingsociety.ac.uk/2015/02/18/how-your-income-affects-your-recycling-habits [Accessed 28 Oct. 2017].