【Paper】
Effects of Separate Collection Policies for Recyclable Items on Citizens' Participation
Yasuhiro Matsui*, Masahiro Ohsako** and Masaru Tanaka*
* Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University
** Research Center for Material Cycles and Waste Management, National Institute for Environmental Studies
† Correspondence should be addressed to Yasuhiro Matsui:
Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University
（3-1-1 Tsushima-naka, Okayama-city, Okayama, 700-8530 Japan）

Abstract
This study was intended to predict effects on citizens' participation rates in recycling programs according to administrative actions such as promoting environmental consciousness, providing information, and changing of collection service.
Questionnaires designed to measure factors that are relevant to recycling behavior were sent to residents of Itabashi Ward, Tokyo. The authors developed logistic regression models for predicting recycling behaviors of: “Curbside Collection of Cans and Bottles”, “Drop-off Collection of Paper Packages”, and “Drop-off Collection of PET Bottles”. We selected predictors for recycling behaviors on three collection programs as: “Perception of Information”, “Evaluation of Trouble”, and “Perception of Coping Efficacy”.
The authors also conducted sensitivity analyses of the developed models. Participation rates were calculated for three conditions: “Maximization of Perception of Information”, “Minimization of Evaluation of Trouble”, and “Maximization of Perception of Coping Efficacy”. Results suggested that “Maximization of Perception of Information” had the greatest effect, followed by “Minimization of Evaluation of Trouble”, and “Maximization of Perception of Coping Efficacy”.
In addition, the authors suggested policy prescriptions for improving citizens' participation rates through analyses of the current status of citizens' utilization of PR media of the municipality and through analyses of the relationships between “Evaluation of Trouble” and relevant factors.

Key words: municipal solid waste, recycling behavior, citizens' participation, predictive model, policy evaluation