Daventry District Council, which has a household recycling rate of 43%, has operated a four-bin kerbside collection system across the district since September 1999. But while participation is as much as 70% and the recycling rate more than 50% in rural areas, in Daventry Town just 30% of households use the scheme, with a 41% recycling rate.
Guide
In 2002, the council began a project to improve recycling participation by 25% in its worst recycling areas, and to raise the recycling rate by at least 5% across the district. This will result in a guide to implementing an awareness campaign in poorly performing areas for other local authorities. The scheme is funded by 67,400 won in the first round of DEFRA's Waste Minimisation and Recycling Fund.
At the end of January 2003, the council will launch Stage Two of their campaign: a leaflet explaining their recycling service to the whole district and a week-long Slim Your Bin roadshow in the town centre.
Project advisor Dr Adam Read of consultants Environmental Resources Management (ERM) revealed that the leaflet would both “pat residents on the back” for helping Daventry become the leading authority for recycling, but would also say certain parts of the district were under-delivering. The leaflets will be delivered by hand to the three lowest performing estates in Daventry Town: Southbrook, Grange and Lang Farm.
Unaware
In July 2002, researchers from University College Northampton had assessed participation rates across these estates and found that of 2,008 households, only 20% of residents used the recycling service, which offers kerbside collections for glass, paper, textiles, cans, plastics, cardboard and organic waste . A survey of 600 households further revealed that people in these areas were unaware of which week materials were collected on, or only started recycling materials when their residual waste bins became full.
In March 2003, doorstep interviews on the three estates will gauge the success of the awareness project. Mr Read explained: “It's a two prong effort, to remind everybody about recycling through the leaflet and roadshow and then go back to the three key regions and say, 'we have taken on board what you told us'. By doing a series of reminders in relatively quick succession, we should achieve a rise in recycling on the three estates while increasing awareness of the scheme generally.”
Daventry District Council's guide to raising low participation is due for publication by the end of April 2003.
Register for free to comment