This study investigated the changes in waste reduction behavior in East Harlem, New York, before and after an educational outreach program. Using focus groups and survey data, the attitudinal and behavioral characteristics of residents were monitored across the two periods. The results showed improvements in the total daily recyclables collected, from 8.7 tons in April 1993 to 11.4 tons in April 1994. There were widespread variations in environmental behavior among residents in the private and public housing units. Specifically, waste recovery rates observed in the public housing units were restricted by structural constraints in the buildings, lack of resources, and relatively poor access to the drop-off sites. The age of the residents, apartment ownership, and household size were also among the important predictors of behavior. These findings provide important implications for developing and maintaining successful recovery and reduction programs in communities with similar demographic profiles.
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