Example environment dissertation topic 1:

Householders, waste generation and recycling: A review of the effects of changes in kerbside collection arrangements in Gwent.

ACORN is a geo-demographic segmentation of the UK’s population which divides small neighbourhoods, postcodes, or consumer households into five categories, seventeen groups and 56 types. Using ACORN classification, this dissertation looks at the effects that a proposed change in the nature of kerbside collection arrangements could have on the generation of waste and the percentage of recycling undertaken by householders in Gwent. In addition to hypothesising the likely changes in the amount of waste that could be recycled (by comparing present recycling figures with those achieved elsewhere) this study also uses a questionnaire to assess residents’ perceptions of the importance of recycling more rubbish.

Suggested initial topic reading:

• Burnley, S.J, Ellis, J.C., Flowerdew, R., Poll, A.J. and Prosser, H. (2006). ‘Assessing the composition of municipal solid waste in Wales’, Resources, Conversation and Recycling, Vol. 49(3), pp. 264-283.
• Davies, S. (2007). ‘Politics and the markets: The case of municipal waste management’. Cardiff University, School of Social Science, Working Paper No. 5. Paper presented in the panel session, local service privatization international perspective at the APPAM Fall Conference, Washington DC, USA.
• Emery, A.D, Griffiths, A.J. and Williams, K.P. (2003). ‘An in-depth study of the effect of socio economic conditions on household waste recycling practices’, Waste Management Research, Vol. 21, pp. 180-190.