Hisako Nomura

Mobilizing citizen effort to enhance environmental outcomes: A randomized controlled trial of a door-to-door recycling campaign

This paper uses a randomized controlled trial to test whether doorstep canvassing can raise participation in kerbside recycling. Existing research shows that canvassing can confront negative attitudes, increase understanding and resolve structural obstacles, but there is less known about the longitudinal effects of such interventions, which may fall away over time. 194 streets in Trafford, in the North West of England, UK were randomly assigned into a treatment and a control group. All households in the treatment group were visited by canvassers who were trained to promote and encourage recycling. Recycling participation rates for all households were measured by observing bin set out rates over a three-week period. Measurement was done before and after the canvassing campaign and then again three months later to see if the intervention had been effective in raising participation rates. Random-effects multilevel regression models, controlling for baseline recycling, street size, deprivation and size of ethnic minority population, show that the canvassing raised recycling participation rates for the treatment group compared to the control group, but there was a decline in the impact of the intervention over time. The intervention was more effective on streets with low levels of recycling at baseline.

The Use of Feedback to Enhance Environmental Outcomes: A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Food Waste Scheme

Food waste makes up about 20% of general waste that goes to the landfill every year in the UK. Encouraging the public to engage in food waste recycling and separating more food from general waste could help local governments promote a better environment. Appeals to collective norms, by giving people feedback on their streets food waste recycling rate compared with others, could promote recycling. To test this, we carried out a randomised controlled trial in Oldham, Greater Manchester. We randomly assigned 318 streets to a treatment and control group. Households in the treatment group were sent two postcards that provided feedback on how their street performed on food waste recycling compared with the average for their neighbourhood. Participation in the food waste scheme was measured for all households on three occasions: at baseline, and after the receipt of the first- and second-feedback cards. We estimated the effect of our treatment using cross-classified multilevel logistic regression models, controlling for baseline, street size and the interaction of treatment and baseline. We show that feedback had a positive effect on the food waste participation with an effect size of 2.8% compared with a control group that received no treatment.

Valuing Human Leptospirosis Prevention Using the Opportunity Cost of Labor

Leptospirosis is a serious public health concern in the Philippines, not only because of its increasing incidence rate, but also because of its significant health and economic impacts. Despite its relatively high seroprevalence, knowledge on the economic burden of disease, particularly on the value that the society places on disease prevention remains limited. Obtaining such information is important within the context of public health policy. This study was conducted in Metro Manila to determine the economic burden of leptospirosis, by asking respondents about their willingness to contribute to labor (WTCL) for the prevention of leptospirosis. The respondents pledged an average labor contribution of 10.66 h/month. The average WTCL corresponded to a monetary value of US

Framework for improvement of farmland biodiversity in Japan

4.01 per month when valued using the opportunity cost of labor (leisure rate of time). From the monetized labor contribution, the total economic value of preventing leptospirosis was estimated at US

Using discrete choice modeling to evaluate the preferences and willingness to pay for leptospirosis vaccine

124.97 million per annum, which represents 1.13% of Metro Manila’s gross domestic product (GDP). Estimates from a Tobit regression model identified the respondents’ knowledge regarding leptospirosis, the susceptibility of their homes to flooding, and the proximity of their homes to sewers as significant factors to consider when developing resource contribution programs for leptospirosis prevention. More efforts need to be made in developing community level preventive programs, and in improving public’s knowledge and awareness about leptospirosis.

Deliberation and Internet Engagement: Initial Findings from a Randomised Controlled Trial Evaluating the Impact of Facilitated Internet Forums

The first agri-environmental programme in Japan, which started in 2011, is aimed at the conservation of biodiversity on farmland in Japan. For its smooth enforcement, a framework is required in which biodiversity conservation is visible and clear to farmers and the public. Such programmes will be effective when options can easily be adopted and the concept is appropriate and regionally specific for the farmers. While the result-oriented payment approach provides biodiversity’s concrete contribution to the improvement of farm settings, entry-level incentives are also necessary to encourage farmers’ initial participation, as biodiversity has an environmental value as public goods.

Identifying characteristics of households affected by deforestation in their fuelwood and non-timber forest product collections: Case study in Kampong Thom Province, Cambodia

Leptospirosis is highly endemic in the Philippines and a serious concern to public health. Local research on candidate vaccine is moving through the development pipeline. The availability of vaccines alone does not guarantee acceptance because individuals’ vaccination choice decision is influenced by several factors. This study assessed how vaccine attributes and socio-demographic factors affect the acceptability of leptospirosis vaccine; and estimated individuals’ willingness to pay for leptospirosis vaccine. A discrete choice experiment was conducted among leptospirosis and non-leptospirosis case respondents (n = 342) living in Metro Manila. Random Parameters Logit model was used to estimate the relative importance of vaccine attributes and socio-demographic variables on respondents’ leptospirosis vaccination choice decision. The estimated model coefficients were used to derive implicit prices and willingness to pay for leptospirosis vaccine. Both case respondents preferred leptospirosis vaccine with 70–100% efficacy, mild to moderate risk of side-effects, given in a single shot, and at a lower price. Non-leptospirosis case respondents preferred a vaccine with 7 to 10 y of protection, while leptospirosis case respondents preferred a vaccine with 10 y protection. The probability of leptospirosis vaccination acceptance was affected by respondents’ age, education, family size and income, proximity of home to rivers and sewers, and leptospirosis awareness level. Respondents’ willingness to pay for leptospirosis vaccine (US

Model of Chinese Household Kitchen Waste Separation Behavior: A Case Study in Beijing City

31.14–US

Deconstructing satoyama - The socio-ecological landscape in Japan

65.89) was higher than the Japanese retail price (US

Knowledge, Attitude and Practices towards Leptospirosis among Lakeshore Communities of Calamba and Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines

21.60-US