Testing Boosts to Guide Caregivers to Sort Waste : an experimental study

Last registered on June 23, 2025
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Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
Testing Boosts to Guide Caregivers to Sort Waste : an experimental study
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0015740
Initial registration date
June 21, 2025

Initial registration date is when the trial was registered.

It corresponds to when the registration was submitted to the Registry to be reviewed for publication.

First published
June 23, 2025, 2:58 PM EDT

First published corresponds to when the trial was first made public on the Registry after being reviewed.

Locations

Country
France
Region
Grand Est

Primary Investigator

Name
Zoé Burtschell
Affiliation
Université Côte d'Azur
Contact Primary Investigator

Other Primary Investigator(s)

Additional Trial Information

Status
On going
Start date
2025-03-17
End date
2025-07-11
Keywords
Behavior, Environment & Energy, Health
Additional Keywords
Waste, recycling, sorting, caregivers, sensibilizations
JEL code(s)
Secondary IDs
Prior work
This trial does not extend or rely on any prior RCTs.
Abstract
This study seeks to evaluate the impact of interactive presentations on the waste-sorting behavior of healthcare workers. Additionally, it aims to identify behavioral factors among caregivers that influence waste management practices.

The research was conducted within the Regional Hospital Group of Mulhouse, specifically across seven retirment homes. Within these seven institutions, the study population—comprising over 400 caregivers—was divided into 20 groups (two to four groups per facility). For the purpose of the impact assessment, these groups were randomly assigned to either a treatment or a control condition.

The experimental design involved the implementation of six brief interactive presentations (approximately five minutes each) delivered exclusively to the treatment groups. These sessions provided both awareness-raising content and detailed information on waste sorting practices and the broader hospital waste management process. The intervention draws on principles from behavioral economics, and more specifically from the "boosts" framework, which consists of disseminating relevant information to target populations in order to support and guide their decision-making and behaviors. The presentations were held biweekly over a three-month period.

To assess the impact of the intervention, two types of measurements were collected both before and after the treatment period: the weight of the waste generated and responses to a structured survey. The results will be analyzed using randomized controlled trials (RCTs). One analysis will use the average waste measurements as the independent variable, while the second will focus on behavioral scores derived from the survey responses.The study focuses specifically on recyclable waste, and only this category of waste is subject to weighing. The objective of the intervention is to increase the proportion of properly sorted recyclable waste, as reflected in the weight measurements.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Burtschell, Zoé. 2025. "Testing Boosts to Guide Caregivers to Sort Waste : an experimental study ." AEA RCT Registry. June 23. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.15740-1.0
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Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
The intervention design is grounded in the "boosts" approach from behavioral economics. Boosts aim to support individuals in making better decisions by providing them with relevant and actionable information, thereby encouraging voluntary behavior change. In this study, 10 out of the 20 caregiver groups participated in six brief interactive sessions designed to inform and raise awareness about waste sorting within the retirment homes where they are employed.

Each session focused on a specific aspect of the waste management process, collectively covering the entire chain—from initial sorting practices to final waste treatment—while also addressing the associated environmental impacts at each stage of the waste lifecycle. The objective of these meetings was to enhance both the knowledge and the awareness of the caregivers in the treatment group, thereby fostering more responsible waste-sorting behaviors compared to those in the control group. Behavioral change will be assessed using two main indicators: responses to structured surveys and quantitative measurements of waste weight.
Intervention (Hidden)
The meetings were strategically scheduled to accommodate the large number of caregivers by taking place during shift changeovers—when morning and afternoon teams overlap. The objective was to ensure the sessions were both accessible and effective, emphasizing simplicity and impact. Caregivers were actively engaged during the sessions, which were supported by visual aids, including posters that illustrated the key points of each presentation.

Simultaneously, the design of the measurement tools (surveys and waste weight collection) aimed to optimize participation and data quality by minimizing the burden on caregivers. The survey was intentionally kept short and composed of simple, concise questions to encourage completion. As for the waste weight data, it resulted from an extensive decision-making process. The final solution involved the installation of automatic scales capable of recording the weight of any object placed on them. These scales were installed directly in the waste disposal rooms, allowing caregivers to weigh garbage bags simply by placing them on the scale before disposing of them as usual.
Intervention Start Date
2025-04-01
Intervention End Date
2025-06-26

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
The primary outcome variables are the scores derived from the survey responses and the average weight of recyclable waste bags.

Survey scores were calculated by summing the points assigned to each evaluable question. These questions were first ranked based on their relevance to the study—taking into account the importance of the concepts addressed and their recurrence in the intervention presentations. Based on this hierarchy, each question was assigned a specific point value, with the total maximum score set at 50. Non-evaluable questions, such as those related to socio-demographic characteristics or reflecting subjective perceptions, were excluded from the scoring process.

The weight of recyclable waste bags was measured using specially designed electronic scales that automatically recorded the weight of any object placed on them. The scales were installed either inside or in close proximity to the waste disposal rooms and programmed to record measurements every four seconds. Following installation, caregivers were instructed to place all recyclable waste bags on the scale prior to disposal. This instruction was reinforced through visual reminders, including posters displayed above the scales, as well as verbal reminders.
After one week of data collection, measurements were retrieved via an SD card and exported to an Excel file. The dataset included the date and time of each recording, the measured weight (in kilograms), ambient temperature, and battery level of the device. Data cleaning and processing involved identifying individual weighing events and calculating the average weight per weighing. The final dataset will be analyzed using Stata software, employing regression models and statistical tests based on the average recorded weight of recyclable waste bags.
Primary Outcomes (explanation)
For the survey component, the primary objective was to maximize response rates among caregivers. The questionnaire was distributed via a QR code, which enabled control over response completeness (i.e., ensuring that all questions were answered) and the accuracy of multiple- or single-choice formats. The survey was developed and administered using the Sphinx software, which allowed for real-time monitoring of the number of responses overall and per establishment. This functionality made it possible to identify and follow up with facilities showing low participation rates.

Regarding the waste weight measurements, managers of each facility were responsible for informing caregivers about the weighing period prior to its start and issuing reminders throughout the data collection phase. This communication was essential, as two preliminary tests of the weighing system conducted before the intervention yielded an insufficient number of recorded weighings. The main reason identified was a lack of clear information transmission among caregivers, underscoring the importance of managerial engagement in the data collection process.

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
The experiment is structured around seven strata representing the residential facilities for dependent elderly individuals, with 20 clusters corresponding to geographically distinct services within each establishment (two to four per facility). The study involves a total of 447 caregivers. The experimental design incorporates randomization across these 20 caregiver groups, with half assigned to the treatment group and the other half to the control group. A pairwise randomization method was employed, where half of the clusters within each stratum were randomly assigned to the treatment group. Pre- and post-intervention measurements were taken across all 20 clusters, while the intervention itself was implemented solely in the 10 clusters assigned to the treatment group.
Experimental Design Details
The division of groups was carried out in collaboration with the managers of each establishment. The primary objective was to form as many groups as possible within each facility, while adhering to specific conditions. These conditions stipulated that each group must have its own designated waste disposal area to ensure clear differentiation between the treatment and control groups. Additionally, each group was assigned a distinct transmission period (under certain constraints) to prevent caregivers from the control group from attending the presentations intended for the treatment group.
Randomization Method
The randomization of the 20 groups was conducted using an online platform specialized in lottery-based random allocation.
Randomization Unit
The level of randomization is the groups of caregivers corresponding to services of the Accommodation Establishment for dependent elderly people.
Was the treatment clustered?
Yes

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
The number of cluster is 20 groups of caregivers.
Sample size: planned number of observations
The number of observations for the surveys is 447 caregivers and for the weight the 20 groups of caregivers.
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
There is 10 groups of treatment with 209 caregivers and 10 groups of control with 238 caregivers.
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
Supporting Documents and Materials
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
IRB Approval Date
IRB Approval Number
Analysis Plan

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Post-Trial

Post Trial Information

Study Withdrawal

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Intervention

Is the intervention completed?
No
Data Collection Complete
Data Publication

Data Publication

Is public data available?
No

Program Files

Program Files
Reports, Papers & Other Materials

Relevant Paper(s)

Reports & Other Materials