Rocky Mountain National Park waste audit and recycling behavioral change intervention initiative

Many federal, regional, and local municipalities and organizations have identified solid waste management, with a focus on landfill waste reduction, to be a core component of their sustainability operations. Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) is one such organization seeking to increase sustainability through improved landfill waste diversion. RMNP conducted a park-wide waste audit in the summer of 2011, identifying the Family Campground location type as having the greatest opportunity to increase recycling rates and decrease trash volumes. Moraine Park Campground, the largest campground in RMNP, was selected for a two-year behavior change campaign and study. Community-based Social Marketing (CBSM) was used as the framework to identify strategies to increase recycling behaviors of park visitors. In accordance with CBSM, observations of waste disposal behaviors and intercept surveys with Moraine Park Campground visitors were conducted. Analysis of this data was performed using two qualitative data analysis techniques: Template Analysis and Constant Comparison. Such analyses identified the barriers to recycling to be awareness, convenience, and commitment. Analyses identified recycling benefits to include general environmental benefits, a connection to place, cleanliness, and the preservation of the environment for future generations. Utilizing CBSM tools for strategy development, strategies to promote recycling behaviors included: gaining recycling commitments upon campground entrance, receipt of equipment for sorting recyclables, Ranger programs to increase recycling commitment and awareness, and the use of multiple recycling prompts to act as reminders. These strategies were implemented in Moraine Park Campground in the summer of 2012 with varying success and consistency. A second waste audit conducted in 2012 found recyclables in the landfill waste stream reduced in the Family and Group Campground overall by 6% and 19%, respectively, as compared to the 2011 waste audit. This equates to a 23% decrease of recyclables in the waste stream in the Family Campground and a 68% decrease in the Group Campground. In addition, an exit survey was distributed to campers to determine their awareness of the strategies, and the perceived effectiveness of the implemented strategies. Results indicate that a camper's commitment to recycle coupled with the receipt of a reusable recycling bag was the most effective recycling behavior change strategy. Moreover, prompts in high visibility locations to remind campers to recycle were also highly effective. To further increase recycling in RMNP campgrounds, the barriers and benefits to long-term, institutional behavior change of park employees should be further researched. This study provides insight into the use of behavior change strategies for sustainable waste management in a National Park campground setting. The results can help other locations with similar visitor/employee interactions develop strategies to increase recycling participation.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (M.S.)

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Construction Management

Grantor dc:publisher

Colorado State University. Libraries

Year dc:date.issued

2012

Authors dc:creator

• Dale, Elliot, author
• Nobe, MaryEllen C., advisor
• Clevenger, Caroline, committee member
• Cross, Jennifer, committee member

• community-based social marketing
• waste reduction
• sustainable behavior change
• recycling
• mixed methods research approach

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.

Language dc:language.iso

eng, English

Identifier URI

https://doi.org/10.25675/3.018293

Identifier

ETDF2012400378CONM

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:mountainscholar.org:10217/71632