The　sorting　and　recycling　of　municipal　household　waste　(MHW)　as　a　complex　adaptive　system　is　becoming　increasingly　popular　in　current　research.　However,　traditional　simulation　modeling　ignores　the　important　influence　of　anticipated　regret　and　personality　traits　on　individual　choice　behavior.　This　study　introduces　the　degree　of　regret-joy　in　agent-based　simulation　modeling　and　designs　a　learning　rule　that　takes　into　account　the　personality　characteristics　of　individuals,　their　neighbors,　and　historical　information　to　analyze　the　waste　sorting　behavior　of　municipal　residents.　The　results　suggest　that　the　number　of　people　participating　in　formal　recycling　approaches　is　significantly　higher　than　informal　recycling　approaches　after　accounting　for　the　economic　profits　of　formal　recycling　approaches.　Our　results　also　reveal　that　subsidies　are　an　important　factor　influencing　the　waste　sorting　behavior　of　municipal　residents.　However,　simply　reducing　the　time　required　for　a　formal　recycling　approach　does　not　affect　the　behavioral　decisions　of　municipal　residents.　Only　improving　the　accessibility　of　facilities　in　formal　recycling　approaches　on　the　premise　of　regulating　the　informal　recycling　market,　will　the　number　of　municipal　residents　participating　in　the　former　increase　significantly.　The　intensity　of　communication　and　learning　among　municipal　residents　also　affects　the　volatility　of　decision-making.　When　intensity　is　high,　group　decision-making　changes　greatly,　but　at　low　intensity,　group　behavior　tends　to　be　stable.　These　findings　are　useful　as　a　theoretical　reference　for　the　development　of　waste　management　policies.　(C)　2020　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.