Brighton research backs recycling incentive schemes

Countering claims made by consultant Dominic Hogg (see letsrecycle.com story), Brighton's six-month study suggested incentive schemes can achieve a 10-20% rise in recycling participation rates.

Brighton researchers found 1 shopping vouchers proving effective in promoting recycling

The study of trials throughout East and West Sussex, suggested “significant” outcomes for costs as little as 1.40 per household.

Dr Marie Harder, head of Brighton's Waste & Energy Research Group, told letsrecycle.com: “The report indicates that schemes involving vouchers to householders and funding to schools and competing villages or apartment blocks can cause significant increases in recycling levels.

“In communities where there was a strong community spirit, such as rival apartment blocks, the incentives were particularly effective,” she added.

Success
However, the report pointed out that some factors were “vitally” important to guarantee the success of incentives.

The university found that vouchers must be worth more than 1 to act as a strong incentive to householders.

Likewise, shops or facilities where vouchers were valid needed to be located nearby or redeemable at a major supermarket. Areas with high recycling participation rates were also unlikely to improve by very much.

Affluence
Dr Harder added: “Surprisingly, the results show that the success does not depend on the affluence of the areas. The regular feedback of householders receiving vouchers also was an important element.”

The trials were among fifty recycling incentive schemes funded throughout the UK by the government through Defra (see letsrecycle.com story). Brighton University worked in conjunction with West and East Sussex councils, as well as local district and borough councils.

The researchers said: “These incentives are only intended to be used for a few months to teach householders new habits. Further work to determine their long term effects are underway. The important question of which schemes are cost effective in which areas of the county can then be determined by various councils.”