Is recycling right a priority for Australians?
Most Australians believe that recycling is important, and are motivated towards helping the environment and minimising waste sent to landfill. However, a new report from Cleanaway reveals confusion and misconceptions about the recycling process are still commonplace.
Cleanaway's 2022 Recycling Behaviours Report reveals the COVID pandemic made 41% of Aussies more concerned about the environment and 42% more conscious about the amount of waste they're generating.
Clean Up Australia Chairperson Pip Kiernan says, “While we know the surge of single use items through the pandemic wasn’t kind on the environment, Cleanaway’s study reinforces that Australians care about their environmental footprint and want to adopt the best practices they can in their everyday habits.”
While nearly half (41%) of Australians reported the COVID-19 pandemic made them more concerned about the environment, 44% said it gave them the time to implement more sustainable practices. The Report shows that 16% of those who grow vegetables started their veggie patch during the pandemic, and of people who said they actively seek out environmentally sustainable brands, 15% started that focus during the pandemic.
While this year’s survey results reveal a net positive sentiment and approach to sustainability since the pandemic, it’s clear Australians are still confused about fundamental recycling practices. Just under half of us are incorrectly disposing of bubble wrap (46%) as well as polystyrene and styrofoam (42%), and only 29% of people are correctly disposing of soft plastic packaging in specialised recycling.
Unfortunately many Australians still bag their recyclables before placing them in the bin, while only a few use specialised recycling services such as REDCycle (soft plastics) and MobileMuster (mobile phones). Clear product labelling, consistent information and a better understanding of the recycling process will go a long way towards helping Australians recycle better
What will help us recycle better?
The survey uncovered a number of measures Australians believe would improve their recycling, including clearer product labelling, consistent information and a better understanding of the recycling process.
Additionally, the report revealed some telling findings when it comes to comparing our physical shopping behaviours with our digital purchasing habits. While 53% of us seek out products with minimal packaging when shopping in store most or every time, only 39% do this online. Furthermore, when shopping in store, 42% of us seek out products made from (or packaged with) compostable, reusable, or recyclable material most or every time, compared with only 33% online.
Greenius, Cleanaway's e-learning platform, helps families, kids and teachers maximise their kerbside bin services and improve recycling practices. The animations, quizzes and content are designed to make recycling easy to understand and fun for recyclers of all ages.
Cleanaway's Recycling Hub features a Recycling Directory that is constantly updated to help Australians answer the question of "which bin does it go in?" It also provides answers to the most common recycling questions, such as "where does my waste go?" and provides downloadable resources for teachers, parents and residents to learn more about their waste.
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Clean Up Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to Elders past and present.