Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

Award Date

2026

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department / School

Geography and Geospatial Sciences

First Advisor

George White

Abstract

Universities are mini communities for the younger generation. Their role in advancing sustainable waste management practices is very valuable. That is why it is crucial to promote pro-environmental behavior, monitor consistent sorting accuracy, and maintain positive recycling indicators such as contamination and diversion rates. The research aim was to explore the impact of spatial context and visual communication strategies on recycling accuracy, contamination, and diversion rates at South Dakota State University (SDSU). The research analysed the impact of proximity to food service areas on waste composition. Another research interest was the impact of educational signage and stickers on recycling behavior assessment, specifically, generic and tailored visual interventions. The study employed a mixed-methods, multi-stage research design in which waste audits were combined with an online survey. Two comprehensive waste audits were conducted in Fall 2023 and Spring 2025 across several academic buildings at varying distances from campus food services. Each audit had three intervention phases: absence of signage, generic signage, and tailored signage, including specific visual stickers. Data from the waste audit were utilized to compute contamination rates, diversion rates, potential diversion rates, and material-specific sorting accuracy. An online survey concurrently evaluated self-reported recycling behaviors, perceived knowledge, behavioral control, and sorting accuracy before and after exposure to visual stimuli. Results demonstrate that structures in proximity to food service zones consistently showed elevated levels of contamination, especially from mixed plastic materials, liquid residues, and food-associated substances. Generic signage showed positive improvements, but customized signage tailored for specific goals and sticker-based prompts significantly reduced contamination and led to notable improvements in sorting accuracy. The survey findings highlighted discrepancies between individuals' confidence in their recycling abilities and their actual performance in sorting materials. Visual prompts were regarded as beneficial and correlated with enhanced accuracy in post-exposure categorization. By combining spatial analysis with behavioral theory, this study illustrates that recycling performance on university campuses is influenced by environmental factors, communication strategies, and convenient infrastructure. The study results support the effectiveness of information-based, location-specific visual interventions and provide practical tools for campus sustainability initiatives.

Publisher

South Dakota State University

Download

Share

COinS
 

Rights Statement

In Copyright