Perceived costs and benefits of buying and using a subsidized compost container

Abstract

Since April 1982 the city of Zeist in the Netherlands offers subsidized compost containers to its citizens. After about one and a half year 504 households that have a garden near their house have purchased the container. Households that have purchased the container (1), households that have not purchased the container but that compost vegetable, fruit and garden waste in another way (2), and households that haven't bought the container and that do not compost are compared on a number of aspects: sociodemographic characteristics, ecology-consciousness, and on the perceived costs and benefits of buying and using the compost container. The results show that the groups differ largely on the selected aspects. Some conclusions are drawn, and recommendations are made for the design of information campaigns accompanying subsidization programs and, in general, for the design of programs aimed at reducing the amount of waste for disposal.