Exploring motivational determinants of household recycling in Singapore: a motivation toward the environment scale (MTES)-based approach to sustainable waste management

Abstract

Singapore’s government aims to achieve sustainable waste management through the Zero Waste Masterplan and the Singapore Green Plan 2030, focusing on reducing per capita waste and transitioning toward a circular economy. However, despite various recycling initiatives, such as financial incentives, recycling facilities, and pro-environmental community activities, the existing strategies show diminishing effectiveness in encouraging household recycling behaviour. This can be proved through the significant decline in national recycling rates by 10% over the past decade, particularly for domestic waste containing only 15% of the overall recycling rate. Hence, by adopting the Motivation Toward the Environment Scale (MTES), this study examines key self-determined motivational factors influencing recycling participation and explores potential mediating effects affecting recycling participation, such as convenience. Based on the survey findings, the paper further provides policy recommendations to improve the effectiveness and appeal of recycling programmes in Singapore, ultimately aiming to enhance public engagement in sustainable waste management practices.