Mapping the Research Trends of Household Waste Recycling: A Bibliometric Analysis

Abstract

Household waste recycling has been widely considered the key to reducing the pollution caused by municipal solid waste and promoting sustainable development. This article aims to clarify the status and map the research trends in the field of household waste recycling. Bibliometric analysis is performed using bibliometrix based on publications during 1991–2020 in the Web of Science database. Results show that academic output in this field is growing rapidly. The top contributing authors, countries, institutions, and journals are identified. Collaboration network of authors, institutions, and countries are created and visualized. The most influential and cited articles in this field mainly focus on factors influencing residents’ recycling behavior from the perspectives of sociopsychology and economics. The theory of planned behavior is the most widely used psychological model. Other research hotspots include electronic waste, source separation, life cycle assessment, sustainability, organic waste, and circular economy. Studies on household waste recycling have become more and more comprehensive and interdisciplinary with the evolution of research themes.