Public Attitudes Towards Recycling
Over the years countless studies have identified the publics behaviours and attitudes towards recycling. Studies have shown that, 42% of the public think that their recyclables end up in general waste, 47% of UK adults struggle to identify what can be recycled, only 12% think that labelling of products as recyclable is understandable and finally 79% of the public admit to putting recyclable items into the general waste bin, to highlight just a few.
This is not the sort of statistics that bodes well as a starting point for the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) who takes over the responsibility of reaching the elevated recycling targets the UK expects.
Trust and Transparency
Underlying these statistics are several fundamental issues that the new EPR scheme will need to address, starting with trust or distrust to be more accurate. Without better transparency as to where the publics recycling ends up after its collected then the regular scare stories revealed by the media of poor management of these materials and dumping abroad to lower environmental standards will continue to fuel a level of distrust which will prevent us reaching our desired level of recycling.
The Promise of Simpler Recycling
It is hoped that the new “simpler recycling” regulations for domestic properties which commences next year will begin to bring a new clarity and impetus to a system that has stalled over the last ten years. Consistency of system and approach is welcomed by the sector, but I believe that we will need more than this to shift the public’s perception and participation rates.
Local Government’s Ongoing Struggles
Local Government has endured a difficult time in respect of recycling, with ever increasing pressure to improve capture and quality of recyclables, but without the necessary funding to create the most performant systems. By shifting the funding of packaging recycling to the producers, the ability to create the right environment for recycling success can improve.
However, there is a real risk that without a significant re-engagement with the public on the value of recycling the distrust which prevents the UK reaching its aspirational targets will continue. Much talk in Local Government is now directed towards the EPR funding for the collection and treatment services but without a successful communications strategy the capture rate and quality of the material presented will probably remain at a similar level.
Conclusion
So PackUK the new EPR organisation tasked with delivering better recycling needs, not only to better fund operational services, but also channel an element of their funding towards regular public awareness campaigns which demonstrate to the public the value of recycling and prevent the myth that their hard work of segregating their recyclables is lost to general waste.
