Environment

The Waste and Resources Action Programme (Wrap) has identified four main barriers to recycling following a survey aiming to discover why households recycle less than they should.

The barriers identified were physical, when collections are unsuitable, unreliable; behavioural, if people are too busy; lack of knowledge of what can be recycled and attitudes and perceptions towards the act of recycling.

The largest majority of householders, at 86%, said they would be encouraged to recycle more if they saw the practical impact of their efforts in the local area.

Around half of all respondents admitted that they still bin things because they are unsure if they can be recycled, but added that they would recycle more if they had collections of a wider range of materials.

Wrap recommended that in order to overcome these barriers local authorities must improve recycling collections, provide better information and relay why the service is worthwhile.

The survey questioned 1,512 householders from a sample of nine local authorities across England, which are regionally representative and cover three different types of recycling scheme.

Director of local government services at Wrap, Phillip Ward, noted that good communication about recycling services is vital, but added that "it will not persuade people to use services which are unreliable or too complicated".

He said: "We believe this research will help local authorities boost their own recycling rates and build on their existing successes. Wrap will continue to support local authorities in achieving this."