Golden Rule: Recycle

Recycling

Who's more environmentally responsible? Seniors? Young Adults? Men? Women?

When it comes to recycling glass at least, a recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Granada observed that housewives are more likely to do it than university students.

So why do they recycle glass? In this study, the housewives recycled because they'd made a "personal rule" to recycle. It was a behavior based on an ethical or moral obligation. True, recycling glass isn't as convenient for students who spend much of the day away from where they live. But with academic training, wouldn't ecological awareness increase? Apparently not. Educational programs designed to raise environmental consciousness seemed to have had no influence on the students' glass recycling behavior!

So, while increasing environmental awareness among young people seems important, this study suggests it simply isn't enough. Environmentally responsible behaviors like recycling glass, paper and other products, isn't just something to learn about.

Housewives in the study seem to have internalized that it's something we should practice daily -- because it's the right thing to do.

Script by Stephen Webb

Discovery Links

To learn more about today’s topic, please explore the links below:

• Housewives are more ecologically aware and recycle more than university students
• Recycling Glass and Paper for Kids
• Recycling
• Environmental Education