Influences of environmental impact assessment on public acceptance of waste-to-energy incineration projects

Environmental impact assessment (EIA) plays a vital role globally in siting waste-to-energy incineration facilities because of its potentially positive influences on public acceptance locally unwanted land use (LULU). However, how EIA WTE through risk/fairness/trust local residents perceived has not been verified empirically, especially evidences the Chinese context. In response, this study aims to empirically verify influence risk/fairness and trust by using model originating from nuclear power data drawn questionnaire survey 401 near four typical incinerators Yangtze River Delta region, China. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analysis shows that tends increase fairness, decrease risk; fairness tend while incinerator projects is enhanced increased decreased risk. The findings contribute knowledge body environment management hazardous exploring specific acceptance, are great significance for governments other authorities decision-making use.