A Behavioral-Economic Model for Source Waste Separation – A Field Experiment in Tamra Municipality
Applicants:
Dr. Yaniv Reingewertz, School of Political Sciences, University of Haifa
Dr. Yair Tzadik, University of Perugia, Italy
Mr. Sadeq Hijazi, Tamra Municipality
This applied academic research project aims to advance sustainable waste policy with significant environmental and social impact. The study will include a field experiment conducted in collaboration with the Municipality of Tamra, where students will be incentivized to separate waste at the source through educational activities, awareness campaigns, and behavioral economics tools.
The experiment is expected to generate theoretical insights into the mechanisms that motivate sustainable behavior, alongside practical contributions to improving sustainable waste management in Israel. The project is designed as a pilot, with the potential to scale across the municipality’s waste collection system and to additional local authorities in the future.
This project was selected as part of the University’s 2024 Call for Impact Projects, launched by the Division of Innovation & Sustainability to promote research and educational initiatives with significant social and environmental impact. Following a highly competitive selection process, each awarded project received ₪50,000 for a 24-month period to support interdisciplinary collaboration and translate academic knowledge into real-world outcomes.