Browsing by Author "Hytten KF"

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    A Systematic Review of Environmental Volunteer Motivations
    (Taylor and Francis Group, LLC., 2024-06-24) Sextus CP; Hytten KF; Perry P
    In many countries, volunteers make an important contribution to protecting and restoring natural ecosystems through participating in activities such as planting, weeding and species monitoring. However, many environmental groups have low recruitment and retention rates. It is therefore important to understand people’s motivations to participate in environmental volunteering. In this context, this paper systematically reviews the limited literature on this topic. A thorough database search identified 44 relevant peer-reviewed journal articles. These papers identified a range of key factors motivating people to volunteer in conservation initiatives including, helping the environment, helping the community, learning, being in nature, and social factors. The literature also showed that there is variation in motivations between individuals, and that different motivations can develop over time. The literature also provides insights into barriers to volunteering and how to recruit and retain environmental volunteers, which is a major factor in the success of conservation initiatives.
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    Design and trial of a comprehensive home composting evaluation tool
    (OICCC Press, Witney, United Kingdom, 2025-06-01) Mensah S; Hannon J; Hytten KF
    Purpose: In this study, a comprehensive home composting evaluation tool (HCET) was designed and trialled to support the analysis of empirical and quality assurance parameters of home composting systems. Method: The proposed HCET was developed based on a review of relevant scientific literature, a range of ‘how to’/‘good practice’ guidelines for home composting, and guiding principles from the New Zealand Compost Standard. It was then trialled within a research project examining home composting practices in Palmerston North, Aotearoa New Zealand. Results: This research showed that whilst home composting is widely undertaken in Palmerston North and diverts a significant amount of organic waste from landfill, home composters often encounter technical challenges and have variable results. Critical reflection on the practical experience of trialling the draft HCET in the context of the broader findings from the research project enabled the HCET to be refined and finalised. Conclusion: A growing body of literature demonstrates that home composting is a popular and cost-effective opportunity to divert municipal organic waste from landfill, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance local soils and home gardening. As such, effective and systematic evaluation of the various home composting technologies, practices and outputs is a critical opportunity to accelerate the development of a more sustainable, low emission circular bioeconomy. The proposed HCET provides a quick, accurate and effective way to undertake data collection and system analysis, which will support future research further developing and optimising home composting technologies and practices.