The Theory of Interpersonal Behaviour Applied to the Mediating Influence of Habit on Recycling Behaviour in South African Townships

Recycling rates in South African townships remain critically low, undermining progress towards sustainable development and the transition to a circular economy. This study applies the theory of interpersonal behaviour (TIP) to examine how recycling habits mediate the relationship between key drivers—past behaviour, environmental concern, facilitating conditions, personal norms and policy regulation—and recycling behaviour. Using survey data from 411 township consumers, the findings indicate that facilitating conditions and personal norms directly influence recycling behaviour, while recycling habits play a central mediating role across multiple drivers. Policy regulation alone is shown to be ineffective in the absence of enabling conditions. The study contributes to the literature by highlighting the limits of normative and regulatory approaches in structurally constrained contexts. The results are relevant to sustainable development goals 11 and 12. For policymakers, they underline the importance of investing in accessible recycling infrastructure and behaviour‐shaping interventions rather than relying solely on regulatory measures.