Serco commissions recycling incentives study

The company hopes that the research will enable local authorities to maximise the effectiveness of existing and planned recycling reward schemes, and research will draw on schemes currently in operation both at home and overseas.

Research is also being carried out by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) into recognition and reward schemes, which Serco says will be closely aligned with its own study.

According to the company, the two organisations hope to widen the scope of the work whilst avoiding unhelpful and costly duplication.

Waste consultancy Eunomia has been commissioned by Serco to carry out the research, with findings due to be released in the autumn. The study will consider alternative methods for rewarding recycling and models for achieving behavioural change.

Defra

Meanwhile, Defras research will focus on the 26 local authorities and community groups awarded funding through its Household Waste Recycling Reward and Recognition Scheme, which was originally announced as part of the Waste Review in June 2011, with further funding announced in April 2012 (see letsrecycle.com story).

Serco direct services business development director Robin Davies, said: Serco is making this important investment to gather real evidence about what works and to help local government make more informed decisions in relation to investment in recognition and reward schemes.

Defra has focussed on supporting and evaluating schemes which they are funding. That opens up an opportunity for us to look, in a comparable way, at the performance of the more established schemes operating across the UK and abroad which dont have Defra funding.
Were delighted that Defra is taking part in this co-ordinated approach and are pleased to be able to positively contribute to this important industry debate.

Eunomia director, James Fulford, added: Weve thought carefully about how this joint approach should work. Joining forces with Defra provides an excellent opportunity to broaden the scope of the research to consider a wide range of schemes.

Eunomia hopes to draw experience from different types of schemes, particularly those overseas. The joint approach in sharing of findings and lessons learned between the organisations will significantly enhance the research, rather than if each of the organisations were working in isolation.