Collaborating with the Texas chapter of the Solid Waste Association of North America, UNT anthropology graduate students conducted surveys and interviews with residents across the North Texas region to learn more about their recycling habits and the underlying causes of recycling contamination.

Collected data was transcribed and analyzed, allowing students to identify patterns and trends, which can be used to make recommendations that can improve recycling education and practices.

"By equipping those who manage recycling programs with this type of data, they'll be able to steward better habits in their communities, resulting in the collection of cleaner, higher-quality recyclables," says Brian Boerner ('86, '95 M.S.), TxSWANA president and solid waste director for the city of Denton.