Public Research Institute San Francisco State University : Public Research Institute San Francisco State University
Slide2 : Summary of Findings
Statewide Survey and Focus Groups
2002 Annual Used Oil Forum
Public Research Institute, San Francisco State University
Rufus Browning, Ph.D., and Holley Shafer, M.A.
January 29, 2002 Available at http://pri.sfsu.edu
DIYers & Used Oil Disposal Public Research Institute DIYers & Used Oil Disposal, Used Oil Forum, 1/29/02
Project Tasks : Project Tasks Literature Review & Research Design
Latino Research Forum
Focus Groups
Pilot Survey in 3 Counties, N = 1,251
Monterey, San Diego, Imperial
Statewide Survey, N = 3,808
Analysis
Public Research Institute DIYers & Used Oil Disposal, Used Oil Forum, 1/29/02
Project Goals : Project Goals Estimate DIY oil changing
Estimate improper disposal of used oil
Find out who the DIYers and improper disposers are
Find out how to reach them
Address the problem of underreporting improper disposal
Examine barriers to and incentives for proper disposal
Public Research Institute DIYers & Used Oil Disposal, Used Oil Forum, 1/29/02
The Underreporting Problem : The Underreporting Problem Common in surveys on socially desirable and undesirable behavior
Voting—5-10% overreporting
Drinking—best recent national survey estimates cover only about 30% of alcohol consumption from sales data
Estimates of improper disposal of used oil are a fraction of the oil missing from the recycling stream
Public Research Institute DIYers & Used Oil Disposal, Used Oil Forum, 1/29/02
Underreporting 1. Selection Bias Who Gets Interviewed? : Underreporting 1. Selection Bias Who Gets Interviewed? Ensure survey participation of Latinos
Used bilingual interviewers at all times
Conducted an extensive pilot survey in Latino areas
Ensure survey participation of other groups
Use native Chinese speakers
If possible, use African-American interviewers to survey African-American populations.
Public Research Institute DIYers & Used Oil Disposal, Used Oil Forum, 1/29/02
Underreporting 2. Response Bias How Reduce Underreporting? : Underreporting 2. Response Bias How Reduce Underreporting? Adopt a conversational mode of interviewing with Latino respondents
Prime the respondents to talk freely about improper disposal
Ask about neighbors’ DIY & disposal first
Acknowledge matter-of-factly many ways people actually dispose of used oil
Public Research Institute DIYers & Used Oil Disposal, Used Oil Forum, 1/29/02
Underreporting 3. Probing the Answers People Give Us : Underreporting 3. Probing the Answers People Give Us If they say they take used oil to a collection center, ask them:
Where is it?—many don’t know.
Was there any time in the past year when you were NOT able to take your used oil to a collection center because you didn’t know where it was? …because it was inconvenient for you? …for any other reason?—many said yes.
Have you been turned away from a collection center?
Public Research Institute DIYers & Used Oil Disposal, Used Oil Forum, 1/29/02
Statewide Survey Methodology : Statewide Survey Methodology Public Research Institute DIYers & Used Oil Disposal, Used Oil Forum, 1/29/02 Telephone survey June 11-July 29, 2001
Sample size: 3,808 households
Long interviews, N = 1,206: 786 DIYers, 420 non-DIYers
Short interviews to determine oil changing practices (DIY), N = 2,602
Margins of error (95% confidence intervals):
+ or – 1.8% for entire sample of 3,808
+ or – 2.8% for 1,206 long interviews
+ or – 3.5% for 786 DIYers
How Many DIYers?—Percents : How Many DIYers?—Percents Public Research Institute DIYers & Used Oil Disposal, Used Oil Forum, 1/29/02
Slide11 : Statewide, we estimate oil changing by
DIYers for 2.3 million households
Shade-tree mechanics for 491,000 households
Garages & shops for 9.5 million households
Out of 12.3 million households (CA Dept of Finance estimate for April 2001)
How Many DIYers?—The Numbers Public Research Institute DIYers & Used Oil Disposal, Used Oil Forum, 1/29/02
Shade-Tree Mechanics (STMs) : About equal numbers of STM users and STMs are European American and Hispanic. Very few Asians or African-Americans.
Hispanics are considerably more likely to be STMs than European Americans.
STMs are mostly young men and small operators. Shade-Tree Mechanics (STMs)
Has the DIY rate declined? : 1994 statewide survey: 23%
2001 statewide survey: 19%
Conclusion: DIY oil changing has probably declined since 1994.
Both estimates are probably low. Has the DIY rate declined?
Who are the DIYers? : 87% are men
Rates of DIY are higher in rural areas, but
Most DIYers live in urban areas. Who are the DIYers?
Who are the DIYers?—Income : Who are the DIYers?—Income Public Research Institute DIYers & Used Oil Disposal, Used Oil Forum, 1/29/02
Who are the DIYers?—Education : Who are the DIYers?—Education Public Research Institute DIYers & Used Oil Disposal, Used Oil Forum, 1/29/02
Who are the DIYers?—Age : Who are the DIYers?—Age Public Research Institute DIYers & Used Oil Disposal, Used Oil Forum, 1/29/02
Who are the DIYers?—Language : Who are the DIYers?—Language Public Research Institute DIYers & Used Oil Disposal, Used Oil Forum, 1/29/02 Note: Chinese speakers under-estimated
How Much Used Oil Is Recycled? Evidence from CIWMB Data : In 2000, the DIY public purchased 33 million gallons of oil.
11 mill. gallons were lost during driving, leaving 22 mill. gallons to be accounted for.
8 million gallons were collected from the public: 36% of 22 million.
14 million gallons were not accounted for and presumably disposed improperly: 64%.
How Much Used Oil Is Recycled? Evidence from CIWMB Data Public Research Institute DIYers & Used Oil Disposal, Used Oil Forum, 1/29/02
Improper Disposal—5 Estimates : Admit it outright 8%
…+ can’t name collection center 20%
…+ did not recycle at least once 23%
…+ turned away from collection center in last year 35%
…+ reported improper disposal by neighbors 37% Improper Disposal—5 Estimates Public Research Institute DIYers & Used Oil Disposal, Used Oil Forum, 1/29/02
Improper Disposal—5 Estimates : Improper Disposal—5 Estimates Public Research Institute DIYers & Used Oil Disposal, Used Oil Forum, 1/29/02
Has improper disposal declined? : 1994 admitted improper disposal: 18%
2001 admitted improper disposal: 8%
2001 estimated improper disposal: 20-37%
Answer: perhaps. Has improper disposal declined? Public Research Institute DIYers & Used Oil Disposal, Used Oil Forum, 1/29/02
Improper Disposal by Group : Improper Disposal by Group Public Research Institute DIYers & Used Oil Disposal, Used Oil Forum, 1/29/02
Improper Disposal by Years in U.S. : Improper Disposal by Years in U.S. Public Research Institute DIYers & Used Oil Disposal, Used Oil Forum, 1/29/02 Population: newcomers
Improper Disposers by Rural/Urban : Improper Disposers by Rural/Urban Public Research Institute DIYers & Used Oil Disposal, Used Oil Forum, 1/29/02
Awareness & Disposal : Awareness & Disposal 50% of DIYers do not have specific information about the environmental impact of used oil.
However, awareness of specific impacts of used oil is NOT related to improper disposal.
Public Research Institute DIYers & Used Oil Disposal, Used Oil Forum, 1/29/02
Incentive & Disposal : 80% of DIYers say they would recycle if paid for their oil, and payment was rated highest of 5 incentives.
BUT the farm workers focus group reported never being paid for used oil.
AND The survey data suggest response to much higher payment levels—$1 per gallon and up—than under the current program—16 cents per gallon.
Public Research Institute DIYers & Used Oil Disposal, Used Oil Forum, 1/29/02 Incentive & Disposal
Convenience & Disposal 1 : Convenience is important.
Reported convenience is related to distance from home.
Improper disposal rate is related to distance from home to a collection facility:
15% if less than 3 miles
28% if 3 miles or more Public Research Institute DIYers & Used Oil Disposal, Used Oil Forum, 1/29/02 Convenience & Disposal 1
Convenience & Disposal 2 : HOWEVER:
56% of improper disposers said that taking used oil to a collection center was convenient for them.
CONCLUSION:
Convenience is important, but many DIYers dispose improperly even if recycling is convenient.
Convenience & Disposal 2 Public Research Institute DIYers & Used Oil Disposal, Used Oil Forum, 1/29/02
Curbside Recycling 1 : Curbside recycling programs account for about 10% of used oil collected from the public, and
10% of California DIYers report disposing of their used oil through curbside recycling programs. Curbside Recycling 1 Public Research Institute DIYers & Used Oil Disposal, Used Oil Forum, 1/29/02
Curbside Recycling 2 :
DIYers in counties with curbside recycling programs report substantially higher rates of recycling than in counties with no curbside recycling. Curbside Recycling 2 Public Research Institute DIYers & Used Oil Disposal, Used Oil Forum, 1/29/02
How to Reach DIYers—TV : How to Reach DIYers—TV Public Research Institute DIYers & Used Oil Disposal, CIWMB, 8/15/2001
When to Reach DIYers : When to Reach DIYers Public Research Institute DIYers & Used Oil Disposal, Used Oil Forum, 1/29/02
How to Reach DIYers—Radio : How to Reach DIYers—Radio Public Research Institute DIYers & Used Oil Disposal, Used Oil Forum, 1/29/02
Where to Reach DIYers—Activities : Where to Reach DIYers—Activities Public Research Institute DIYers & Used Oil Disposal, Used Oil Forum, 1/29/02
How to Reach DIYers : How to Reach DIYers 47% of DIYers read a newspaper every day, 73% at least weekly.
90% of DIYers who read a newspaper at least once per week do so in English.
Farm workers focus group: personal contact with the community is best. Media have a credibility problem.
Public Research Institute DIYers & Used Oil Disposal, Used Oil Forum, 1/29/02
Summary of Findings 1 : Summary of Findings 1 Who are the DIYers?—
Men
Younger men especially
Slightly less education & income overall
Public Research Institute DIYers & Used Oil Disposal, Used Oil Forum, 1/29/02
Summary of Findings 2 : Summary of Findings 2 Who are the improper disposers?
Not much different than “proper disposers.”
There is no evidence to support the conclusion that Hispanics dispose of used oil improperly more than any other group.
Implication—the Board’s allocations and programming effort targeting Hispanics may have been effective in reducing improper disposal.
Public Research Institute DIYers & Used Oil Disposal, Used Oil Forum, 1/29/02
Summary of Findings 3 : Summary of Findings 3 Do ethnoracial groups in general dispose of used oil improperly at different rates?
There is no convincing evidence to support such a conclusion.
Public Research Institute DIYers & Used Oil Disposal, Used Oil Forum, 1/29/02
Summary of Findings 4 : Newcomers are different—they are more likely to dispose of used oil improperly. Summary of Findings 4
Summary of Findings 5 : Summary of Findings 5 Underreporting—Is the problem solved?
PRI developed new survey methods and new questions.
Public Research Institute DIYers & Used Oil Disposal, Used Oil Forum, 1/29/02
Summary of Findings 6 : New methods—
Ask about neighbors’ disposal first.
Use a conversational mode of interviewing with Latinos Summary of Findings 6 Public Research Institute DIYers & Used Oil Disposal, Used Oil Forum, 1/29/02
Summary of Findings 7 : New indicators—
Can’t name center
Admits not being able to recycle sometimes for particular reasons
Says was turned away at the center
Says neighbors dispose improperly Summary of Findings 7 Public Research Institute DIYers & Used Oil Disposal, Used Oil Forum, 1/29/02
Summary of Findings 8 : Summary of Findings 8 Many barriers & unimplemented incentives remain in the system of used oil collection.
Many survey respondents were pleased with their collection centers, but:
Some are regularly turned away.
Some report never being offered payment.
Convenience is a problem for many.
Public Research Institute DIYers & Used Oil Disposal, Used Oil Forum, 1/29/02
Outreach Recommendation 1 : Outreach Recommendation 1 Target newcomers to the U.S. and California and new drivers, especially young men.
Public Research Institute DIYers & Used Oil Disposal, Used Oil Forum, 1/29/02
Outreach Recommendation 2 : Outreach Recommendation 2 There are no magic media channels to improper disposers. By and large, use methods that reach DIYers and newcomers.
In newcomer and ethnic communities, personal approaches to members by respected community people and organizations might be more effective than media outreach.
Public Research Institute DIYers & Used Oil Disposal, Used Oil Forum, 1/29/02
Outreach Recommendation 3 : Outreach Recommendation 3 Consider approaches to “shade-tree mechanics”—how they might be encouraged into the system of used oil collection.
Public Research Institute DIYers & Used Oil Disposal, Used Oil Forum, 1/29/02
Outreach Recommendation 4 : Outreach Recommendation 4 Information about specific impacts of improper disposal is not as important as convenience and commitment.
Public Research Institute DIYers & Used Oil Disposal, Used Oil Forum, 1/29/02
Program Recommendation : Program Recommendation Determine whether local collection centers make it difficult for DIYers to recycle.
Determine whether local collection centers offer payment.
Make sure collection centers are well publicized and signed.
Public Research Institute DIYers & Used Oil Disposal, Used Oil Forum, 1/29/02
In closing… : In closing…