The Index, based on a survey of 1,500 people conducted across the UK in August 2016, provides an overview of public attitudes to recycling including key regional differences.
Confusion
The survey found that UK consumers believe more can be recycled but are frustrated by what they can and can’t recycle, with 66% of people surveyed frustrated about not having enough educational materials available on recycling.
And, 78% are frustrated that different councils recycle different things, while 63% of consumers are frustrated that different councils collect waste in different ways.
Consumers were most confused about whether they can recycle light bulbs, crisps packets and coffee cups, and 73% wants more transparency on what happens to their waste.
The Index also highlights barriers to levels of recycling, including a lack of consumer knowledge about what they can and can’t recycle, a lack of consistency among councils with regard to recycling policy and a lack of transparency about what happens to waste once collected.
‘Out-dated assumptions’
Dan Cooke, director of communications and external affairs at Viridor, commented: “Viridor believes that greater transparency in the recycling and waste sector is crucial to rebuilding confidence with UK consumers to support them with recycling.”
He added: “The UK’s recycling policy remains largely based on out-dated assumptions about resources which reinforce old-school waste management contracts and waste collections based on authority boundaries that are not representative of the value of resources to the national economy.
Viridor calls for new and ambitious thinking – from government and local authorities, the recycling sector, retailers and waste producers – that moves recycling, recovery and resource management closer to the needs of consumers and to a more productive economy.”
Register for free to comment