Increasing recycling through displaying feedback and social comparative feedback

This study examines the effectiveness of displaying a persuasive message, feedback, and social comparative feedback on recycling behaviors in a cafeteria in a French university. Participants were students and university staff. On a daily basis, we measured two dependent variables: the weight of correctly recycled items and the number of sorting errors. During the baseline period (A) of two weeks, a recycling container was installed next to the usual trash container. For the three weeks of the treatment period (B), a persuasive message, feedback information, or social comparative feedback were displayed. All displayed items were then withdrawn, and we continued measurements for three weeks (A). Results showed a statistically significant increase in recycling and a decrease of the number of sorting errors in the social comparative feedback condition. The effects continued when feedback was removed. The results suggest that publicly displayed social comparative feedback can improve recycling behaviors.