Prompts or proximity: Recycling old techniques for a new population

Sign posting and container proximity manipulations have been shown to be effective methods of increasing recycling in university and corporate settings. The generalizability of these methods to other populations is unknown. The current study used an ABCDEAB reversal design to examine recycling behavior in an adult mental health population at a local socialization center. During baseline (A), the amount of recyclable materials placed in trash containers was monitored. Recycling containers were then introduced to the center. During intervention phases, recycling and trash containers were placed adjacent to each other without signs (B), 4 meters apart without signs (C), adjacent to each other with signs (D), and 4 meters apart with signs (E). A brief reversal to baseline was then implemented followed by reinstating the least intrusive-most effective treatment. Results indicated that placing recycling and trash containers in close proximity (with or without signage) yielded the greatest overall increase in recycling behavior. Moreover, patrons of the center were able to reliably assist in data collection and maintain the project following the withdrawal of intervention. Techniques for increasing recycling behavior can be extended to a novel population and setting, albeit with some unique challenges to data collection (e.g., can theft)