10.2190/292Q-6RKL-KJ96-UTAX 292Q6RKLKJ96UTAX 4 Developing a Tentative Model of Disposal Decisions 129 144 20020509 20020509 20020509 20020509 292Q6RKLKJ96UTAX.pdf http://baywood.metapress.com/link.asp?target=contribution&id=292Q6RKLKJ96UTAX 2 W. David Conn Elaine C. Warren School of Architecture and Urban Planning, University of California, Los Angeles Concern over problems of resource depletion, environmental damage, and the ever-increasing costs of disposing of solid wastes has led to a search for new approaches to managing these wastes. One way of reducing the rate at which the wastes are first generated might be to extend the lifetimes of durable products. To assist policymakers in understanding how the lifetimes are determined, an exploratory study has examined factors influencing consumers' decisions to dispose of certain small electrical appliances. Selected findings of a household survey are presented here, focusing on 1) the frequency distribution of disposal choices and the reasons given for disposal, and 2) variables associated with particular disposal options. A tentative model of the process leading from consumer purchase to consumer disposal is proposed. U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, <i>Second Report to Congress: Resource Recovery and Source Reduction</i>, Government Printing Office, Washington, 1974. U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, <i>Third Report to Congress: Resource Recovery and Waste Reduction</i>, Government Printing Office, Washington, 1975. D. Wahl, <i>Reduce: Targets, Means, and Impacts of Source Reduction</i>, League of Women Voters, Washington, 1975. U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, <i>Fourth Report to Congress: Resource Recovery and Waste Reduction</i>, Government Printing Office, Washington, 1977. W. D. Conn, Waste Reduction: Issues and Policies, <i>Resources Policy, 3</i>, pp. 23-38, 1977. W. D. Conn, Consumer Product Life Extension in the Context of Materials and Energy Flows, <i>Resource Conservation: Social and Economic Dimensions of Recycling</i>, D. W. Pearce and I. Walter, (eds.), New York University Press, 1977. G. S. Day and W. K. Brandt, A Study of Consumer Credit Decisions: Implications for Present and Prospective Future Legislation, <i>Technical Studies, 1</i>, Government Printing Office, Washington, 1973. J. F. Pickering, Verbal Explanations of Consumer Durable Purchase Decisions, <i>Journal of the Market Research Society, 17</i>, pp. 107-113, 1975. J. Jacoby, C. K. Berning and T. F. Dietvorst, What About Disposition?, <i>Journal of Marketing, 41</i>, pp. 22-28, 1977.