6 in 10 say they’re rubbish at recycling

FROM coloured dustbins with their own rules on what’s allowed in them to dwindling waste collection times, recycling is a cause of increasing frustration, a survey shows.

Six in ten of householders are not confident they put their waste in the right bins, with 66 per cent frustrated that different councils recycle items in different ways.

But even if they knew which bin to choose, three-quarters are sceptical that all recyclable waste actually is recycled. Nine in ten would consider using refillable packaging. However, only 35 per cent do, blaming a lack of availability.

Some 71 per cent think one UK-wide collection system would help recycling rates, according to waste management firm Viridor, which surveyed 1,500.

Going further, 45 per cent think England’s aim to recycle 50 per cent of its waste by 2020 is not ambitious enough.

And 73 per cent believe that in 50 years it is likely there will be oceans full of plastic, while 69 per cent are worried about water contamination.

Paul Brown, of Viridor, said: ‘The public are confused about what and how to recycle, with the range of collection approaches in the UK and the stretching of local authority collection periods leading to continued contamination of potentially good material for recycling.’

He called for a ‘more standardised approach to waste collection’.