{"pk":39371,"title":"Initiating Sustainable Behavior: Feel Good for Doing Good","subtitle":null,"abstract":"This study investigated if alteration of cues and rewards of people at a university workout center could impact water bottle disposal behaviors. Using a Social Cognitive Theory model, two 8-week interventions were conducted. After a baseline was determined, educational signs were posted and then environmental changes were made to affect on awareness and cognition. Results recorded changes from a baseline proportion 73.2% of recyclable plastic and glass bottles disposed of in garbage cans to 26.8%  in the recycling bins to 26.1% of the bottles in the garbage cans and 73.9% in the recycling bins after the interventions. Surveys also suggested supportive cognitive changes. The simple interventions used to nurture, support and reinforce pro-environmental behaviors would not only lower garbage costs, research indicates these actions also improve morale, well-being, and public image. This study documents destructive waste habits can be changed toward positive recycling behaviors with proper support and design.","language":"en","license":{"name":"none","short_name":"none","text":"","url":"https://escholarship.org/terms"},"keywords":[{"word":"Recycling, Sustainability, Habits, behavior"}],"section":"Articles","is_remote":true,"remote_url":"https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4v45933k","frozenauthors":[{"first_name":"Craig","middle_name":"M","last_name":"Becker","name_suffix":"","institution":"East Carolina University\nHealth Education & Promotion\nGreenville, NC","department":"None"},{"first_name":"Emily","middle_name":"","last_name":"Ayscue","name_suffix":"","institution":"East Carolina University\nSustainable Tourism\nGreenville, NC","department":"None"},{"first_name":"Sharon","middle_name":"Janell","last_name":"Brockett","name_suffix":"","institution":"East Carolina University\nHealth Education & Promotion\nGreenville, NC","department":"None"},{"first_name":"Gregory","middle_name":"","last_name":"Scarola","name_suffix":"","institution":"East Carolina University\nHealth Education & Promotion\nGreenville, NC","department":"None"},{"first_name":"Timothy","middle_name":"","last_name":"Kelley","name_suffix":"","institution":"East Carolina University\nHealth Education & Promotion\nGreenville, NC","department":"None"}],"date_submitted":"2014-01-23T03:22:12+01:00","date_accepted":"2014-01-23T03:22:12+01:00","date_published":"2014-12-17T08:11:29+01:00","render_galley":null,"galleys":[{"label":"","type":"pdf","path":"https://journalpub.escholarship.org/egj/article/39371/galley/29726/download/"}]}