Robinson’s survey identifies lack of education as negatively impacting recycling rates

A new study of 2,000 adults, commissioned by drinks brand Robinsons, has found that up to 25 per cent of individuals do not feel educated enough about what they can and cannot throw away, or the impact this may have on the environment.

As a result, recycling behaviour has been affected. For instance, only 42 per cent of respondents break down cardboard boxes for pick up and 59 per cent ‘don't think’ to put paper anywhere other than their general waste bin.

Other items were seen as problematic, for example 81 per cent of respondents saw food as difficult to recycle. Further areas identified were aluminium foil (73 per cent), newspapers (65 per cent) and wine bottles (67 per cent) which all make their way into the general household bin waste.

Despite the survey finding that 66 per cent of adults try to recycle as much as they can, 55 per cent remain ‘very unclear’ about what can be collected, and what can't. This led to a quarter of adults admitting that their recycling boxes are only ever half full when it comes to bin day.

The study also lists bulbs, compost, grass clippings and pizza boxes as items likely to be put into the rubbish bin. Easily recyclable items such as magazines, envelopes and aluminium foil are not recognised as such, the findings show.

This has led to three in ten adults often finding items in their recycling boxes after the collection has taken place – as they weren't deemed suitable.

Busy schedules are presented in the study as a reason behind 24 per cent of respondents not organising items into their bins each week, whilst one in five ‘can't be bothered’ to recycle – opting to put everything in the rubbish bin instead.

Robinsons has teamed up with Biffa's waste strategy and packaging expert, Roger Wright, this Recycle Week to create 10 handy hacks on how to recycle effectively. Recycle Week 2022 will be live 17-23 October, with the theme ‘Let's Get Real’. The initiative aims to ‘challenge perceptions and myths around recycling, and target contamination to improve recycling behaviours’.

Roger said: "In the UK, our recycling habits have plateaued with roughly only 50 per cent of the things that could be recycled, actually getting recycled.

"There are lots of reasons for this but we feel it needs more intervention from brands and retailers to incentivise or gamify good habits in this respect, in order to move the dial.

"Recycle Week is a great time to shine a light on this situation, to educate and enable people to do more."