Can behavioural changes improve and encourage waste segregation in India?
Intuitive, clear language, emphasising personal and immediate goals and instilling a sense of accountability can go a long way towards having a positive impact.
India faces a colossal waste management problem, which is exacerbated by poor segregation and sorting practices, especially in the country’s urban parts.
Globally, the country ranks fourth in the Plastic Mismanaged Waste Index. It generates about 1.51 lakh tonnes of municipal waste daily, yet only 47% of it undergoes proper processing.
Municipal corporations across India insist on garbage segregation – that is, sorting waste into wet and dry – but they have had limited success in making this work on the ground.
Understanding behavioural patterns linked with waste segregation, and deploying nudges informed by behavioural science can go a long way in making some change.
Over the years, improper disposal has increased the volume of total waste in landfills across the country, contributing further to higher levels of short-lived climate pollutants such as methane.
The waste sector contributed to 4% of the total greenhouse gas emissions in 2018. Given the environmental and health implications, waste management should be urgently addressed.
Behavioural barriers, facilitators
Effective waste segregation can be difficult due to the confusing terminology of “dry” and “wet”. Items labelled “wet” can be considered as dry waste and vice versa. This lack of intuitive classification complicates accurate sorting.
For instance, items labelled as “wet”, like used paper napkins, might be more suitable for dry waste disposal. Conversely, seemingly dry items, like...
