Mature response shows weakness in UK recycling

The UK's older generation -- those aged 55 or over -- has demonstrated its commitment to recycling, with more than two-thirds (68%) saying that they would continue to recycle even if doorstep recycling collections are removed.

The research, commissioned by the Plastics 2020 Challenge to launch its online recycling debate, was carried out online by YouGov.

Barry Turner of the Plastics 2020 Challenge said: “We can’t just rely on the older generation to get Britain’s recycling rates up. We need to ensure that better infrastructure is in place to make it as easy as possible for all kinds of householders, including those in high-density housing and student accommodation, to get involved. One council has already stopped kerbside collection of plastic bottles to reduce its council budget. This is worrying when the opposite is needed to reach Government recycling targets.

“We have found through this research that both the unemployed and those who are time-poor, such as larger families and working people, will find it hardest to continue if doorstep recycling systems are affected by lack of investment. These results show that, although many people want to recycle, they can easily become demotivated when faced with barriers – we need to work together with Government, our industry and the consumer to remove these obstructions.”

The research also showed that in most households it is women who take responsibility for the recycling, with more than three-quarters (77%) of households relying upon them to ensure it happens. Surprisingly, given recent emphasis on the environment in education curricula, the younger generation is less inclined to get involved in recycling with respondents stating that only 1% of children adopt any responsibility for the recycling in the home.

“In launching our recycling debate online, we are asking the public and interested groups to start talking about how we can achieve realistic targets,” said Turner. “The Plastics 2020 Challenge is calling for a widespread, open debate on how we can reach these targets through the ‘four Rs’ – reduce, reuse, recycle and recover – including doubling the recycling rate of plastic packaging by the year 2020.”