RESEARCH ON THE INFLUENCING FACTORS OF ENVIRONMENTAL COGNITION AND VALUES ON RESIDENTS’ WASTE CLASSIFICATION INTENTIONS AND BEHAVIOURS OF HEFEI CITY IN CHINA

Abstract

This study explores the influences of environmental cognition and environmental values on resident residents' intention and behaviour towards resident waste classification in Hefei City, Anhui Province, China. Based on the Value-Belief-Norm (VBN) theory, an influencing factor model is constructed. Through questionnaire survey and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analysis, it is found that environmental cognition has a significant positive impact on waste classification intention and behaviour, while environmental values primarily influence behaviour indirectly through intention. Waste classification intention plays a partial mediating role in this process. The study proposes suggestions such as strengthening environmental education, encouraging government-society cooperation, and implementing long-term tracking and evaluation mechanisms to promote widespread implementation of waste classification behaviour.