We analyze recycling decisions for bioplastics using a natural field experiment. Bioplastics have environmental benefits – such as reduced energy use in production and enhanced biodegredation – compared to conventional plastics. Recycling decisions that are not consistent with government guidelines, however, may cause a rebound effect. For instance when biobased plastics contaminate organic waste streams, or compostable plastics contaminate plastics waste streams. The environmental benefits of these new plastics may be offset by the damage caused by such recycling decisions. The field experiment that we set up to test this recycling behavior exploits the setting of a lemonade tasting. In our experimental treatments, subjects are exposed to different types of bioplastics logos on their lemonade cups as well as varying amounts of recycling information. We use two types of bioplastics and compare these to conventional plastics in terms of whether subjects recycle the cups according to guidelines. Our results show that over 90% of subjects dispose of their cup with plastic waste, which is not the intended waste stream for some bioplastics. None of our treatments can snap subjects out of this default behavior. We interpret this finding as subjects having no clue how to recycle bioplastics.

我们使用自然现场实验分析生物塑料的回收决策。与传统塑料相比，生物塑料具有环境效益——例如减少生产中的能源使用和增强生物降解。然而，不符合政府指导方针的回收决策可能会导致反弹效应。例如，当生物基塑料污染有机废物流，或可堆肥塑料污染塑料废物流时。这些新塑料的环境效益可能会被此类回收决策造成的损害抵消。我们为测试这种回收行为而设置的现场实验利用了柠檬水品尝的设置。在我们的实验治疗中，受试者会接触到柠檬水杯上不同类型的生物塑料标志以及不同数量的回收信息。我们使用两种类型的生物塑料，并在受试者是否根据指南回收杯子方面将它们与传统塑料进行比较。我们的结果表明，超过 90% 的受试者将他们的杯子与塑料废物一起处理，这不是某些生物塑料的预期废物流。我们的治疗方法都不能使受试者摆脱这种默认行为。我们将这一发现解释为不知道如何回收生物塑料的受试者。这不是某些生物塑料的预期废物流。我们的治疗方法都不能使受试者摆脱这种默认行为。我们将这一发现解释为不知道如何回收生物塑料的受试者。这不是某些生物塑料的预期废物流。我们的治疗方法都不能使受试者摆脱这种默认行为。我们将这一发现解释为不知道如何回收生物塑料的受试者。