Mind the gap! Householder attitudes and actions towards waste in Ireland

The growing volume of domestic waste is a particularly visible manifestation of the environmental problems caused by high levels of economic growth and consumption in Ireland, while the effective management of waste is becoming progressively problematic for policy-makers and householders alike. Surveys of public opinion demonstrate a gap between concern for the environment and actions to protect it. However, there has been little consideration of public views of, and behaviour in relation to, the waste sector. An in-depth study of public actions and attitudes towards waste in Ireland was conducted in response to this paucity of information. The research revealed a complex landscape of attitude-action relationships influenced by factors ranging from personal characteristics to social and institutional contexts. Attention to this complexity by policy makers in Ireland will be essential if the management of household waste is to be improved.