Do not waste “Pickers”: exploring the intention to join waste picker cooperatives

The objective of this study is to investigate the intention of waste pickers to participate in waste picker cooperatives. According to research, cooperatives improve waste pickers' quality of life. However, it is unclear how waste pickers perceive and interpret what is provided to them and if these advantages affect their attitudes and intentions. We provide a unique theoretical model that explains waste pickers’ intentions to join cooperatives by incorporating the theory of planned behavior. A total of 112 waste pickers, consisting of both Turkish individuals and immigrants, were included in the data collection process. The data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling, utilizing multi-group analysis by including social exclusion and nationality as moderators. One of the most striking findings is that pickers’ feeling of control over their planned action does not affect their intention to join cooperatives without an attitude. To clarify, waste pickers must initially develop a positive attitude towards perceiving the joining behavior as effortless. Our research also shows that socially excluded people trust and value cooperatives more, regardless of their nationality. This pioneering study on waste pickers’ willingness to join cooperatives and other novel findings will benefit scholars and policymakers.