Research on recycling behaviour supports the National School Breakfast

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recycling

From 11-15 November, the National School Breakfast will take place, a wonderful initiative that helps children in primary schools develop healthy eating habits. This year, the proceeds from a special research project conducted by our colleague and researcher Marie Hartmann from the professorship of Sustainability in Hospitality and Tourism will be donated to the National School Breakfast. The research took place on campus in ‘The Canteen’ at R8.

From bin to crate

In this study, the number of deposit bottles and cans thrown in the trash daily was counted over the course of a week. A collection point was then installed in the form of a bin from Statiegeld Nederland, supplemented with various posters. It was noted that many people used the collection point as a regular trash bin. To verify the data, Marie had to sift through the garbage bags from the canteen with gloves to count the discarded bottles and cans. After four weeks, the collection point was changed from a bin to a crate, which led to a drastic reduction in waste at the collection point. The crate was tested with a poster focused on positive emotions and environmental consciousness.

Marie Hartmann: “My research focused on behavioural interventions related to recycling behaviour in the canteen. By using nudges and prompts, I aimed to motivate guests to return their deposit bottles and cans, which led to a successful implementation of a deposit return system”.

Proceeds donated to the National School Breakfast

Between February and July 2024, a total of 770 deposit bottles and cans were collected, resulting in a yield of 118.85 euros. This amount will be fully donated to the National School Breakfast, allowing even more children to enjoy a healthy breakfast and learn about the importance of good nutrition.

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