1. North Carolina State University
Influence of Motivational and Prevention Factors on Consumer Recycling Behavior
Authors: Shaghayegh Rezaei, Kristin A. Thoney-Barletta, Jeffrey A. Joines, Lori Rothenberg
North Carolina State University
15.3
13.1
9.5
5.8
2.3
2.01
1.32
0.66
Million Tons
1990
2000
2010
2013
Textile Waste Generated
Textile Waste Recycled
Abstract
The gap between the amount of textile waste generated in the U.S. and the amount recovered has increased over the past few decades.
That Could Be RECYCLED
Ends Up In
LANDFILLS
85% Clothing WASTE
RECYCLING PREVENTION
Objectives
To determine if consumer demographics are related to consumer’s clothing and shoes disposal behavior.
To evaluate if having children in the household impacts consumer’s recycling of unwanted clothing and shoes.
To recognize the factors that motivate or prevent consumers from recycling unwanted clothes and shoes.
Results
DEMOGRAPHICS
RECYCLING MOTIVATION
HAVING CHILDREN IN HOUSEHOLD
Pass to Friends and Family
Donate to Charity
ECONOMIC
HELPING
Where
What
SATISFACTION
Selling at Consignment/Resale Shops
Methods
Survey
General U.S. Population (Sample size=209)
Conclusions
Helping others is the most influential motivation factor.
Poor condition of clothes and shoes and lack of awareness are the most prominent reasons in the decision to throw textiles away.
Existence of children in the household has a significant effect on clothing and shoes disposal behavior.

2. DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS (Homogeneity Test)Xi
Prob> χ2
Practical Conclusion 1
Gender
0.0106*
Females tend to recycle textiles more than males. 2
Age
0.6647¥
There is no difference in textile recycling behavior between different age groups. 3
Ethnicity
0.1226¥
There is no difference in textile recycling behavior concerning household ethnicity. 4
Education
0.1736¥
There is no difference in textile recycling behavior concerning household education. 5
Income
0.0039¥
Households with higher income are more likely to recycle textiles than lower income groups. 6
Marital Status
0.0556*
There is a slight difference in recycling textiles between married and single participants. Married respondents are more likely to recycle textiles. 7
Living Arrangement
0.0367*
People who own their home are more likely to recycle textiles than those who rent. 8
Type of Dwelling
0.0034*
People who are living in a house or townhouse are more likely to recycle textiles than those who live in an apartment.
Fisher's Exact Test
Prob
Alternative Hypothesis
Left
0.0106*
Prob(Textile Recycling=1) is greater for Gender=Female than Male
Right
0.9967
Prob(Textile Recycling=1) is greater for Gender=Male than Female
2-Tail
0.0131*
Prob(Textile Recycling=1) is different across Gender
Click Here to Return
*Fisher’s Exact Test, ¥Homogeneity Test

3. MOTIVATION FACTORS (Factor Analysis)
Helping Less Fortunate People
Helping Support a Charity/Cause
Helping Friends and Families
Helping the Environment
HELPING FACTOR
Receiving Discount/ Coupon or Store Credit
Making Money by Selling Them
Receiving a Tax Deduction
ECONOMIC FACTOR
Creating Space in Closet
Avoiding Feeling Guilty by Not Throwing Away
SATISFACTION FACTOR
Motivational Factors
Helping Factor
Economic Factor
Satisfaction Factor
Helping less fortunate people
Helping support a charity/cause
Helping friends and families
Helping the environment
Receiving discount/ coupon or store credit
Making money by selling them
Receiving a tax deduction
Creating space in closet
Avoiding feeling guilty by not throwing away
Click Here to Return

4. PREVENTION REASONS (Fisher’s Exact Test)50
100
150 14 25
124 44 31 33 A B C D E F
Prevention Reasons
Number of Responses
PREVENTION REASONS (Fisher’s Exact Test)
(P-value = )
Responses to Prevention Factor A
0.00
0.25
0.50
0.75
1.00
21.4
78.6
95.6 1
Recycling Textiles
Yes No
Not Recycling Textiles
(P-value = )
0.00
0.25
0.50
0.75
1.00
28.6
71.4
12.7
87.3 1
Yes No A
Do not see any reason for textile recycling B
Drop-off location is not very close and there is no curbside collection/recycling bin near my residence C
My clothes and shoes are not in good enough condition D
Not sure which products can be donated, recycled, or resold E
Not sure where to donate, recycle, or resell unwanted clothes and shoes F
other
Responses to Prevention Factor E
Click Here to Return
Not Recycling Textiles
Recycling Textiles

5. HAVING CHILDREN IN HOUSEHOLDS (Nonparametric Wilcoxon Test)
ADULTS’ & CHILDREN’S CLOTHING
ADULTS’ CLOTHING
HOUSEHOLDS WITH CHILDREN UNDER AGE 13
HOUSEHOLDS WITH & WITHOUT CHILDREN UNDER AGE 13
(P-value = )
(P-value = )
(P-value = ) 10 20 30 40 50
Adults
Children
Individual
Sell Items to Consignment Stores 20 40 60 80
100
With Children
Without Children
Adults 20 40 60 80
100
Adults
Children
Individual
Pass to Friends and Family
Donate to Charity
Click Here to Return