Who Recycles More...Men or Women?

Recycling doesn’t seem like it should be more for women than men, but more and more studies are showing that although many men do recycle, it is predominantly a practice for women.

This is not to say that men don’t recycle, but when really put to the test, some will opt for things that are less “green” and

According to scientificamrican.com, “Women have long surpassed men in the arena of environmental action; across age groups and countries, females tend to live a more eco-friendly lifestyle. Compared to men, women litter less, recycle more, and leave a smaller carbon footprint.

Their “suggests an additional possibility: men may shun eco-friendly behavior because of what it conveys about their masculinity. It’s not that men don’t care about the environment. But they also tend to want to feel macho, and they worry that eco-friendly behaviors might brand them as feminine.”

Wastedive.com “also found that men are equally likely to avoid "green" practices in public and private, suggesting they are more concerned with maintaining their own self-perception of masculinity than being environmentally-friendly.”

Whether recycling and other “green efforts” are perceived as being feminine activities, there is a segment of the population that feels that it is.  Until we can change that perception, men, on an average, continue to recycle less than women.

For more information on recycling visit www.wasteawaygroup.com.