Community Educational Attainments and their Effect on Local Government Recycling Collection Practices

This study examines the effect of college educational attainments of residents on the level of recycling collection practices of local governments, with the empirical case of the county governments in New Jersey. To explain the variation in the degree of responsible and effective waste management solutions of local governments, the educational attainment of residents on the aggregate level as well as socio-economic indicators were selected as predicting variables. By conducting multivariate linear regression analyses, this study found that the college educational attainment variable did not demonstrate statistical significance in explaining the levels of recycling practices on the local level. This study suggests the enhanced role of higher education in nurturing students'' environmental awareness and civic responsibilities in sustainable practices as a contributing factor for local sustainability governments.