STAKEHOLDER PERSPECTIVES ON WASTE AND APPROPRIATE WASTE AND MATERIALS MANAGEMENT IN NEW YORK STATE

This study explores the state of waste and materials management in New York State by gathering and analyzing stakeholder perspectives on appropriate solid waste management. Participants were 21 individuals from county governments, private waste companies, and local community reuse organizations. Perspectives were primarily collected through an activity called conceptual content cognitive mapping (3CM), a quantitative and qualitative methodology that is based on cognitive mapping literature and allows for commonalities and differences in perspectives to be identified and analyzed. Perspectives were coded and analyzed using methods including descriptive statistics, hierarchical cluster analysis, thematic analysis, and frequency analysis. Analyses also included between-groups comparisons (e.g., by stakeholder group, participation in pro-environmental behaviors (PEB), demographic groups). Results indicate a wide range of items, topics, and themes that were identified as important focal points by waste management stakeholders with consensus on a few key areas including: importance of education, source reduction, extended producer responsibility, strategic partnerships, and operations. Implications for the study of waste within the field of environment and behavior are discussed