Understanding household recycling behavior in a developing country: Socioeconomic and territorial gaps in Colombia

This study analyzes the determinants of household recycling in Colombia, a middle-income country marked by inequalities in waste management. Using data from the 2023 Quality of Life Survey (ECV), we estimate standard, multilevel, and multivariate probit models to assess the impact of socioeconomic, demographic, and contextual factors on recycling behavior. Results highlight the importance of household income, digital connectivity, service access, and pro-environmental attitudes. A behavior index is constructed to capture latent environmental dispositions. The analysis reveals strong interdependencies among recycling decisions for paper, plastic, and glass, and notable territorial disparities linked to structural barriers. Simulation exercises show that households with more resources and stronger environmental orientations have significantly higher recycling probabilities. These findings offer insights for designing inclusive recycling policies in developing countries, emphasizing the need for behavioral incentives, service provision, and environmental education to enable widespread participation and promote sustainable waste management systems.