Understanding Recycling while Tailgating: Applying an Information-Motives-Behavior Skills Approach

At large sporting events, venues often include multiple ways stadium spectators can recycle. However, outside the stadium, tailgaters often make up a large percentage of the event’s attendees and yet may have unaccounted barriers to recycling. This paper uses both observational and survey data to examine the recycling behavior of tailgaters at an American Division I University’s football events. Surveys revealed high reported intent to recycle, but observed behaviors revealed lower rates of recycling (48.7 %). Many of the tailgaters observed (40.7 %) used their own waste disposal bags, which was associated with decreased use of the venue’s recycling infrastructure. Large groups not only used more of the venue’s infrastructure, but were also more likely to use the venue’s bags over bags they brought from home. Greater knowledge about the venue’s infrastructure, higher motivation to recycle, and higher behavioral capacity to recycle were associated with increased reported recycling behavior. Certain groups, like alumni, those who tailgate frequently, and tailgaters who recycle at home reported the highest levels of predictors of recycling. Implications for future interventions and facility managers are discussed.