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Waste classification is regarded as one of the most important strategies for waste management, and its success depends on the active participation of the public. Based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and attitude-behavior-condition (A-B-C) theory, this research investigated the key factors affecting residents' domestic waste classification intention (WCI) and waste classification behavior (WCB), and explored the moderating effects of three external factors including infrastructure (INF), government publicity (GP), and incentive measures (IM) on the intention-behavior relationship. The valid data were collected from 584 residents via conducting a face-to-face interview in Chengdu, a pilot city of waste classification in China, and analyzed by using the structural equation model (SEM). Results showed that residents' WCI and WCB had a significant discrepancy with the average values of 4.07 and 2.81, respectively. Attitude (AT), perceived behavior control (PBC) and classification knowledge (CK) were significantly related to residents' WCI, with AT (β = 0.65, P < 0.001) having the greatest direct impact. Meanwhile, CK and INF had a stronger impact on the WCB than WCI. GP indirectly affected WCB through the intermediary effect of CK. In addition, INF and GP had a positively moderating effect on residents' waste classification intention-behavior relationship and can facilitate the intention-behavior conversion. By contrast, IM failed to promote the conversion of residents' classification intention into behavior, and had no direct significant influence on residents' WCB. Finally, some relevant policy suggestions were put forward for the new pilot cities of waste classification in China. • Key factors affecting residents' WCI and WCB were investigated. • Moderating effects of external factors on intention-behavior relation was explored. • Attitude had the greatest direct influence on residents' WCI. • CK and Infrastructure had a stronger impact on WCB than WCI. • Infrastructure and GP can strengthen the intention-behavior conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]