A new survey has found that only 57 per cent of 18 to 24 year olds believe it is ‘very important’ to recycle as much household waste as possible.
The YouGov poll, commissioned by waste management company Veolia, surveyed 2535 adults between 2 and 3 July and found that those aged 18 to 24 were ‘the most uncaring generation when it came to recycling and wanting to make a positive difference’.
Indeed, the poll found that people over the age of 55 were much more concerned with recycling, and their civic duty to do it, than their younger counterparts were; almost three quarters (74 per cent) of over 55s said they thought it was important to recycle as much household waste as possible.
The survey also found that:
- only 29 per cent of 18-24 years olds think they bear the most responsibility to recycle, compared with 42 per cent of over 55s, preferring to hold local and national government accountable for doing it;
- twenty-six per cent of 18-24 year olds think the EU’s target to recycle 50 per cent of household waste by 2020 is too low, rising to 40 per cent for over 55s; and
- eighty-one percent of women “feel guilty” when they don’t separate their rubbish whereas only 69 per cent of men do.
“The UK needs to meet ambitious recycling targets”
Speaking of the findings, Estelle Brachlianoff, Senior Executive Vice President of Veolia in UK and Ireland, said: “Most people assume that younger people are more socially and environmentally conscious, yet this study turns this logic on its head.
“The UK needs to meet ambitious recycling targets. These are achievable provided that we can keep up the pace, continue promoting it in engaging ways and make it simple. Unless we do something to change these attitudes we will find it increasingly hard to convince future generations to take recycling seriously.”
She added: “In the age where we buy and throw away a new mindset is needed that should be matched throughout higher education in schools to truly understand the importance of recycling and how it reduces our dependence on precious resources.”
Find out more about the psychology behind recycling.
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How will the government and DMOs address the challenges of including glass in DRS while ensuring a level playing field across the UK?
There's no easy solution to include glass in the DRS while maintaining a level playing field. Potential approaches include a phased introduction of glass, potentially with higher deposits to reflect its logistical challenges. The government and DMOs could incentivise innovation in glass packaging design and subsidise dedicated return points for glass-handling. Exemptions for smaller businesses unable to handle glass might also be necessary. Any successful solution will likely blend several approaches. It must address the differing priorities of devolved administrations, balance environmental benefits with logistical and cost implications, and be supported by robust consumer education campaigns emphasizing the importance of glass recycling.