Doorstep recycling difficulties

7 June 2007

As Defra launches a consultation on new powers to charge residents who do not recycle waste, new Which? research* reveals that nearly seven in ten people surveyed are unable to recycle plastic packaging via doorstep collection.**

Other common materials that the people surveyed are unable to recycle - or do not know if they can recycle - via doorstep collection include drink cartons (70 per cent), food waste (64 per cent), glass and plastic bottles (both 44 per cent)***.

With many councils switching to fortnightly rubbish collections, people unable to recycle a range of waste on their doorstep should complain to their council, says Which?, as one dustcart produces far fewer carbon emissions than multiple cars going to recycling tips.

But Which? says that going green can be easy and can even save people money:

> Planning shopping can reduce food waste by up to £400 a year
> Insulating walls and the loft cuts CO2 emissions by 40 per cent and can save £250 a year on heating bills
> Switching off appliances when not in use can save £37 a year and using energy-saving lightbulbs can save £9 a year
> switchwithwhich.co.uk says that switching to a green electricity tariff can cut the average bill by almost £35 a year****; turning the thermostat down by a degree can save £40 a year on gas bills.

Green options can be less practical than flying when travelling longer distances***** but 60 per cent of those surveyed by Which? said they would consider carbon offsetting flights in the future.

Neil Fowler, Editor, Which?, says:

“Recycling is a cornerstone in the fight against climate change, but councils need to do more to make it as easy as possible to recycle on our doorsteps - or the net effect will be drastically reduced as people either get in their cars to drive to their local tip or don’t recycle at all.”

“There are lots of easy, practical steps we can all take to reduce our impact on the environment – like shopping smarter or being more energy efficient – and the good news is that as well as helping the environment, many help our bank balances too.”

Notes to editors

A full article “Not just another green article” appears in the June issue of Which? magazine. For further information, the full article or an interview, contact Nicola Frame.

Research methodology and footnotes

* In March 2007, 2,677 Which? online panel members took part in a survey about recycling and carbon offsetting.

** 68 per cent are unable to recycle via doorstep collection and a further 8% do not know if this option has been made available to them (total 76 per cent)

*** Percentage of surveyed Which? members unable to recycle via doorstep collection:

Plastic packaging - 68 per cent unable/8 per cent do not know (total 76 per cent)
Drink cartons – 63 per cent unable/7 per cent do not know (total 70 per cent)
Food waste – 60 per cent unable/4 per cent do not know (total 64 per cent)
Glass – 43 per cent unable/1 per cent do not know (total 44 per cent)
Plastic bottles – 42 per cent unable/2 per cent do not know (total 44 per cent)
Cardboard – 40 per cent unable/3 per cent do not know (total 43 per cent)
Cans/tins – 22 per cent unable/1 per cent do not know (total 23 per cent)
Paper - 14 per cent unable/0 per cent do not know (total 14 per cent)

**** Example of someone in the East Midlands who has never switched supplier. Switching to an Ecotricity green source tariff from Powergen’s standard tariff would cut an average bill by almost £35 a year. Additional savings could be made switching to a regular tariff.

***** Typical cost, time and environmental impact of two people travelling from London to Glasgow. Car assumed to do 43 miles to the gallon. Prices checked by Holiday Which? Nov – Dec 2006. CO2 figures provided by the government.

	Journey time	Cost of cheapest return journey	CO2 emissions (kg)
Car	7 hours 1 min	£81	110.8
Coach	8 to 11 hours	£45	18.4
Plane	1 hour 22 min	£75.34	192.8
Train	5 hours 20 min	£144	23.8

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