As well as providing tools which help councils identify low participation areas (LPAs) , it also helps users to develop communication plans to increase levels of participation.
Outlining WRAP's hopes for the guidance, its head of local authority communications support, Louise Bowe, said: “Almost every local authority in the UK will have streets, neighbourhoods or maybe larger areas that under-perform when it comes to recycling and this can seriously undermine the overall success of collection schemes.
“Encouraging these residents to participate fully in recycling services can be challenging. However, we hope this guidance will help local authorities identify the unique issues within their LPAs and communicate with those residents more effectively,” she added.
Middlesbrough
Philip Shaw is recycling officer at Middlesbrough council which, was one of the bottom five authorities for recycling and composting in 2006/07 with a 15% recycling rate. He told letsrecycle.com that he would be looking at the guidance for tips.
Referring to the issue of low participation areas, he said that “it is something we are looking to improve. We did undertake some door-stepping last September and that gave us a lot of useful information”.
The door-stepping took place with the support of WRAP's Behavioural Change Local Fund, a £500,000 fund for the community sector which aimed to promote effective communication. Mr Shaw described the programme as “a great help”.
“We've done a lot of communication work, including leafleting, the livery on our vehicles, and other methods,” he added.
Tower Hamlets
Tower Hamlets council, which finished bottom of the league table for recycling and composting performance in 2006-07, was also pleased about the assistance available.
Kevin Crook, waste policy and development manager for the authority, said: “WRAP give us a lot of support that is highly-valued and I'm sure that will continue to be the case.”
“Our recycling is improving and has been improving over the past three years, and we're just setting out on a new three-year recycling plan,” he added.
Wirral
Ben Parker, recycling officer at Wirral metropolitan borough council, which also fared poorly in the 2006-07 recycling and composting league tables, was also aware of the guidance.
He said: “We know about this particular scheme, but our participation rate was 94% in a sampled area that was representative of the borough. Capture rates are more of an issue, and that links into recognition rates.”
“When the figures for 2007-08 come out, we'll have met our targets with 31% – introducing alternate weekly collections and commingled kerbside collections has helped us a lot.”
“More support for advice and guidance on issues such as street-cleansing recycling is something we're looking to introduce,” he added.
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