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Article
"Reduce Food Waste, Save Money”: Testing a Novel Intervention to Reduce Household Food Waste
Environment and Behavior
  • Paul van der Werf, Western University
  • Jamie A. Seabrook, Brescia University
  • Jason A. Gilliland, Western University
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
9-1-2019
URL with Digital Object Identifier
https://doi.org/10.1177/0013916519875180
Abstract

An intervention, which used elements of the theory of planned behavior, was developed and tested in a randomized control trial (RCT) involving households in the city of London, Ontario, Canada. A bespoke methodology involving the direct collection and measurement of food waste within curbside garbage samples of control (n = 58) and treatment households (n = 54) was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention. A comparison of garbage samples before and after the intervention revealed that total food waste in treatment households decreased by 31% after the intervention and the decrease was significantly greater (p = .02) than for control households. Similarly, avoidable food waste decreased by 30% in treatment households and was also significantly greater (p = .05) than for control households. Key determinants of treatment household avoidable food waste reduction included personal attitudes, perceived behavioral control, the number of people in a household, and the amount of garbage set out.

Notes

Also available open access at: https://doi.org/10.1177/0013916519875180

Citation Information
van der Werf, P., Seabrook, J. A., & Gilliland, J. A. (2019). “Reduce Food Waste, Save Money”: Testing a Novel Intervention to Reduce Household Food Waste. Environment and Behavior. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013916519875180