23 June 2011

Rubbish or Recycle
Weekly rubbish collections could become a thing of the past, but researchers in Bath say this isnt necessarily a bad thing as recycling across the country may actually increase.

Researchers from the University of Bath used statistical analysis to scrutinise data provided by the UKs 434 local authorities on household waste to assess how the quality of kerb-side provisions affects household recycling. Their research showed reduced refuse collection encouraged more recycling.

How often we get our bins collected is a contentious issue for communities and policy-makers alike, said Dr Lucy OShea. Some policy-makers have argued that reducing bin collection is purely a move to cut costs, but our research shows it is definitely a driver to improve recycling.

The explanation is that less frequent bin collection is an incentive for people to increase the amount they recycle, so as to reduce the quantity of waste retained within the household over a longer time period.

OShea said the study supports the experiences of local authorities who have already switched to lower frequency collections and seen an increase in recycling.

We know that reduced frequency of bin collections reduces costs, but now we have also shown that it can be used as an effective tool to help us meet increasingly stringent EU targets for recycling, OShea said.

OShea and her colleagues Baths Professor Shasikanta Nandeibam and Professor Andres Abbott from the University of Hull plan to look at different categories of recycling, such as glass and papper, and to examine the warm glow effect that recycling gives householders.

For the full news article and to be taken to the website, click here