Household Plastic Recycling: Empirical Insights and Design Explorations

TL;DR

This paper investigates household plastic recycling behaviors in Finland through qualitative studies and explores innovative design concepts integrating physical and digital solutions to improve recycling routines.

Contribution

It provides empirical insights into household recycling challenges and proposes novel interactive design concepts combining physical bins with mobile apps.

Findings

Identified key frictions in household plastic recycling

Designed four interactive recycling concepts

Highlighted design opportunities at packaging, infrastructure, and digital interfaces

Abstract

This article examines household plastic recycling in Finland through two qualitative studies and four design concepts. Study 1 reports short interviews with residents about how they store, sort, and dispose of plastic packaging in their homes. The findings highlight recurring frictions: limited space, improvised storage, uncertainty about correct sorting, and difficulties with bulky or dirty items. Study 2 focuses on laundry detergent packaging as a common source of large plastic containers. Participants' purchase decisions prioritised price and cleaning performance, while expressing concern for environmental impact and confusion about materials, rinsing, and recyclability. Building on these insights, four student groups designed interactive recycling concepts that combine physical bins or bags with mobile applications. The concepts explore modular storage, sensing and compaction, playful feedback, and reward schemes to support domestic recycling routines. Together, the studies and concepts point to design opportunities at the intersection of packaging, home infrastructure, and digital services, while also raising questions about feasibility, privacy, and the cost of new devices.