Complementarity vs substitutability in waste management behaviors

Both the economic and psychological literature suggest that household waste reduction and recycling behaviors are driven by different motivators. In this article, we investigate whether any relationship exists between waste reduction and recycling efforts and, in this case, if they turn out to be complements or substitutes in individuals’ preferences. Our theoretical results, supported by empirical evidence for England, suggest that waste policies and environmental motivations may affect recycling and waste reduction both directly and indirectly, through their reciprocal interactions.