The Path to full bins: integrating effort, social cohesion, and regulation

Abstract This study explores the recycling dynamics of a society with agents characterized by heterogeneous behavior towards recycling: unconscious agents, who are disengaged and unresponsive to both institutional measures and social incentives, and conscious agents, who actively engage in recycling by weighing the effort involved against intrinsic and societal benefits. A word-of-mouth mechanism regulates the exchange of opinions between agents and possible changes in the attitudes of individuals. The dynamical model takes into account both the share of recyclers and the waste dynamics. Our findings highlight that effective policies must balance effort costs, enforcement mechanisms, and social motivations. While reducing perceived effort costs relative to penalties can theoretically drive total recycling, this approach risks resistance and inequities. Enhancing intrinsic and social rewards through public campaigns and incentives is a more practical strategy to encourage participation. However, intermediate rewards can lead to complex dynamics, emphasizing the need to promote collective participation as a valued norm to ensure stability.