A University of British Columbia study suggests that offering people a choice between a guaranteed 10-cent deposit refund or a small chance to win $1,000 could increase beverage container recycling rates in B.C. and Alberta. The research found that people generally prefer the gamble, experiencing "anticipatory happiness." This lottery-style system has been successful in Norway, which boasts a 96.7% recycling rate. The study's authors are working with provincial return-it systems to explore implementation, though the impact on "binners" (people who collect containers for income) needs further consideration.
A shot at $1,000 or a guaranteed 10 cents? UBC study suggests choice could up recycling rates
Lottery-style beverage container return systemRecyclingRecycling lotteryRecycling psychologyAlbertaBritish ColumbiaCanadaUniversity of British ColumbiaWaste reductionWaste managementBeverages
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️A University of British Columbia study suggests that offering people a choice between a guaranteed 10-cent deposit refund or a small chance to win $1,000 could increase beverage container recycling rates in B.C. and Alberta. The research found that people generally prefer the gamble, experiencing "anticipatory happiness." This lottery-style system has been successful in Norway, which boasts a 96.7% recycling rate. The study's authors are working with provincial return-it systems to explore implementation, though the impact on "binners" (people who collect containers for income) needs further consideration.
Trending- 1 1997: Norway implemented recycling lottery.
- 2 Current: UBC study published, authors working with provincial return-it systems.
- Potential increase in recycling rates in B.C. and Alberta
- Reduced waste
- Need for further study on impact on binners
- Potential policy changes for recycling programs
What: A UBC study proposes that offering a lottery-style incentive (chance to win $1,000 vs. guaranteed 10 cents) could boost beverage container recycling rates.
When: 'Since 1997' (Norway's system), '20 years' (Jutta Gutberlet's study on binners).
Where: British Columbia, Alberta, Canada, Norway, Vancouver.
Why: To increase beverage container recycling rates and reduce waste in landfills and as litter; people are more motivated by the excitement and hope of a larger reward than a small guaranteed one.
How: Researchers devised experiments in food courts and a food festival, offering choices of probabilistic refunds; studying the implementation of such a system with provincial return-it systems.