(573b) Civic Environmentalism and Waste Recycling: The Role of Community Social Capital in Promoting Eco-Friendly Behaviors

Resident participation in waste valorization is an excellent way to build social health capital in poor under-resourced communities. Local civic organizations and grassroots environmental health groups have the greatest pull in influencing resident attitudes and behavior about eco-friendly practices. Residents who are civically engaged in their environments benefit their community’s health. This also encourages eco-friendly health behaviors from community members. Resident attitudes about the importance of civic environmentalism requires investment by community leaders and local stakeholders engaged in environmental eco-friendly health promotion. Such involvement is highlighted in the paper with respect to promoting resident’s health behavior knowledge about environmental health issues. We include several practical source reduction strategies to encourage resident civic participation in socio-environmental waste valorization activities such as educating community members about the cost to them for not recycling (i.e. increased prices for goods and services), the benefits of sustainable reusable materials in protecting the environment and human health as well as home composting and similar type energy efficient methods to reduce local waste cumulative build up.