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Social, cultural and structural influences on household waste recycling: A case study

Social, cultural and structural influences on household waste recycling: A case study
Social, cultural and structural influences on household waste recycling: A case study
The household-recycling rate in the Borough of Burnley, England in 2001/2002 was only half the national average of 12%. This research employed both quantitative and qualitative surveys in order to ascertain whether householders’ attitudes to recycling were contributory factors to the generally poor recycling performance and to investigate other social, cultural and structural influences. The Borough has a large Asian–British population concentrated in two deprived wards where recycling rates are particularly low, so special attention was given to ascertaining their attitudes towards recycling.
The quantitative survey comprised a postal questionnaire sent to a random sample of 360 households drawn from the electoral register. The qualitative survey consisted of group interviews with the Asian–British population at local community centres and focus groups attended by volunteers from the quantitative study.
The findings suggest that householders are very willing to participate in recycling, as shown by the almost 80% claiming to recycle paper, but that local recycling services are too unreliable and inconvenient to allow them to do so comprehensively. Asian–British attitudes to recycling were found to be no different to those of the wider population, with their low participation being linked to the higher priorities imposed upon them by economic deprivation. The findings are broadly in line with those of the literature in that recycling participation tends to be higher among more affluent and older people, but lower among less affluent and younger households, probably due in part to the availability of both storage space and time, with the implication that the Borough's preponderance of terraced housing militates against a high recycling rate. Policy recommendations to local authorities include the provision of bespoke recycling services to suit the variety of residential conditions across the UK, and the provision of regular feedback to householders regarding recycling services and performance.
Further research is needed to identify non-recyclers and to explore how householders’ underlying psychological, cultural and social attitudes to recycling impinge upon recycling and participation rates.
local authority, kerbside recycling, social surveys, public participation, ethnic minorities
0921-3449
357-395
Martin, M.
51030542-f483-42b7-b267-e9c965c1d6ba
Williams, I.D.
c9d674ac-ee69-4937-ab43-17e716266e22
Clark, M.
15f1407b-b560-42a1-850e-4e214fa297b0
Martin, M.
51030542-f483-42b7-b267-e9c965c1d6ba
Williams, I.D.
c9d674ac-ee69-4937-ab43-17e716266e22
Clark, M.
15f1407b-b560-42a1-850e-4e214fa297b0

Martin, M., Williams, I.D. and Clark, M. (2006) Social, cultural and structural influences on household waste recycling: A case study. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 48 (4), 357-395. (doi:10.1016/j.resconrec.2005.09.005).

Record type: Article

Abstract

The household-recycling rate in the Borough of Burnley, England in 2001/2002 was only half the national average of 12%. This research employed both quantitative and qualitative surveys in order to ascertain whether householders’ attitudes to recycling were contributory factors to the generally poor recycling performance and to investigate other social, cultural and structural influences. The Borough has a large Asian–British population concentrated in two deprived wards where recycling rates are particularly low, so special attention was given to ascertaining their attitudes towards recycling.
The quantitative survey comprised a postal questionnaire sent to a random sample of 360 households drawn from the electoral register. The qualitative survey consisted of group interviews with the Asian–British population at local community centres and focus groups attended by volunteers from the quantitative study.
The findings suggest that householders are very willing to participate in recycling, as shown by the almost 80% claiming to recycle paper, but that local recycling services are too unreliable and inconvenient to allow them to do so comprehensively. Asian–British attitudes to recycling were found to be no different to those of the wider population, with their low participation being linked to the higher priorities imposed upon them by economic deprivation. The findings are broadly in line with those of the literature in that recycling participation tends to be higher among more affluent and older people, but lower among less affluent and younger households, probably due in part to the availability of both storage space and time, with the implication that the Borough's preponderance of terraced housing militates against a high recycling rate. Policy recommendations to local authorities include the provision of bespoke recycling services to suit the variety of residential conditions across the UK, and the provision of regular feedback to householders regarding recycling services and performance.
Further research is needed to identify non-recyclers and to explore how householders’ underlying psychological, cultural and social attitudes to recycling impinge upon recycling and participation rates.

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More information

Published date: 2006
Keywords: local authority, kerbside recycling, social surveys, public participation, ethnic minorities

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 39489
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/39489
ISSN: 0921-3449
PURE UUID: 22e502ab-f157-4530-b3f2-d27d507f3e63
ORCID for I.D. Williams: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-0121-1219

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 28 Jun 2006
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 03:43

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Contributors

Author: M. Martin
Author: I.D. Williams ORCID iD
Author: M. Clark

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