TY - JOUR
T1 - Exploring the effects of spatial distance on public perception of waste-to-energy incineration projects
AU - Zhou, Qianqian
AU - Xu, Min
AU - Liu, Yong
AU - Cui, Caiyun
AU - Xia, Bo
AU - Ke, Yongjian
AU - Skitmore, Martin
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (Grant Nos. 72072165 , 71672180 , and 72001079 ), the Soft Science Research Program of Zhejiang Province, China (Grant No. 2020C35055 ), and the Research Foundation of Education Bureau of Zhejiang Province, China (Grant No. Y202045460 ).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2022/4/15
Y1 - 2022/4/15
N2 - The spatial distance of residents from potentially harmful facilities plays a vital role in shaping their perceptions of the facilities. Based on environmental psychology theories, such as the ripple effect, psychological typhoon eye effect, and marginal zone effect, two waste-to-energy (WTE) incineration plants in China's Zhejiang province are used as case studies to understand peoples’ perceptions. Following a questionnaire survey of local residents, the results of a one-way ANOVA indicate a low acceptance of incinerators and a high level of perceived risk; the impact of spatial distance on the local residents’ level of perceived risk correspond to the marginal zone effect; and the perception of economic benefits, trust, fairness, and acceptance of WTE incinerators have a ripple effect. Furthermore, the impact of spatial distance is effectively eliminated or alleviated by a range of community engagement approvals and various forms of economic compensation. These findings enrich the knowledge system related to environmental psychology research on NIMBY infrastructure projects and contribute toward better understanding of public psychology in order to provide a future reference for more efficient decision-making models.
AB - The spatial distance of residents from potentially harmful facilities plays a vital role in shaping their perceptions of the facilities. Based on environmental psychology theories, such as the ripple effect, psychological typhoon eye effect, and marginal zone effect, two waste-to-energy (WTE) incineration plants in China's Zhejiang province are used as case studies to understand peoples’ perceptions. Following a questionnaire survey of local residents, the results of a one-way ANOVA indicate a low acceptance of incinerators and a high level of perceived risk; the impact of spatial distance on the local residents’ level of perceived risk correspond to the marginal zone effect; and the perception of economic benefits, trust, fairness, and acceptance of WTE incinerators have a ripple effect. Furthermore, the impact of spatial distance is effectively eliminated or alleviated by a range of community engagement approvals and various forms of economic compensation. These findings enrich the knowledge system related to environmental psychology research on NIMBY infrastructure projects and contribute toward better understanding of public psychology in order to provide a future reference for more efficient decision-making models.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85125652649&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.wasman.2022.02.033
DO - 10.1016/j.wasman.2022.02.033
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85125652649
SN - 0956-053X
VL - 143
SP - 168
EP - 176
JO - Waste Management
JF - Waste Management
ER -