Creating sustainable neighbourhoods in cities: greener neighbourhoods could promote residents pro-environmental recycling behaviour

ContextGrowing evidence shows that people's desire to protect the environment may be linked to their connection with and experiences in nature. However, the effect of possible exposure to local green spaces and their landscape patterns on pro-environmental behaviours lacks extensive observational evidence.ObjectivesThis study investigates the relationship between residents' recycling behaviour and neighbourhood green spaces at both neighbourhood and individual levels, with consideration given to the impact of green space configuration. Considering that recycling, as a simple pro-environmental action, is often regarded as a 'first step' to further pro-environmental behaviours, our study is crucial for synergistically optimising neighbourhood landscape sustainability planning and waste management to enhance ecosystem services of neighbourhood green spaces and to support sustainable community development in compact cities.MethodsNeighbourhood-level observed recycling behaviour was quantified using data from 457 'smart' recycling stations, while self-reported recycling behaviour at the individual level was assessed through a nationally representative survey with 300 respondents in a mega-city in China. Linear mixed-effects model and structural equation model were used to analyse the relationships between the behaviour and multiple landscape indices of neighbourhood green spaces.ResultsAt the neighbourhood level, the observed recycling behaviour positively relates to the ratio (but not the area) of green spaces within 1000 m around residences and the density of the recycling stations. However, other landscape characteristics of green spaces did not show significant effects on recycling behaviour. At the individual level, the green area ratio influences recycling behaviour via residents' green space perception, visit frequency to the green spaces and subjective norm, with the aggregation level of green spaces (but not shape index) serving as a moderating factor.ConclusionsOur study suggests a close link between neighbourhood greenspaces and residents' sustainable behaviours. Moreover, different patterns of green space could be adopted in communities with varying green space ratios to better reconnect residents with the natural world, hence improving landscape sustainability in compact cities.