A recent study from Barratt Homes reveals that 72% of British people admit to disposing of recyclable items in their regular waste bins.
Barratt Homes says its new report reveals there is still a lot to be done to improve the recycling system in the UK, as 71% of British people surveyed admit to knowingly disposing of recyclable items into general waste rather than recycling them.
The study surveyed 2,000 people across the UK and combined UK government recycling data to uncover the nation’s recycling habits.
Barratt Homes says an easy and cost-effective way households across the country can become greener is by simply being more aware of their recycling habits.
The findings reveal over three-quarters of respondents put items into the recycling bin without checking whether they can be recycled.
(The) study highlights the areas of recycling that Brits are unfamiliar with and, from this, we can work to educate ourselves on how we can improve our recycling habits.
Furthermore, 72% of the UK admits to putting something we knew could be recycled into the regular waste bin, with almost half of those surveyed going as far as to hide recyclable items at the bottom of the regular waste bin.
The survey shows that it’s not just putting recyclable items in the regular waste bins that British people are doing as more than half of those surveyed say they have also put items they knew couldn’t be recycled in the recycling bin.
Understanding which items can and cannot be recycled could be a reason for many households struggling to become more recycling-friendly.
The survey shows that kitchen roll is the most common household item which people confuse for being recyclable (32%), when in fact the paper fibres are too short for the recycling machines, which Barrett Homes says makes it better suited as compost for house plants rather than the recycling bin.
By becoming more mindful of what and how we are recycling, a small change in household behaviour can make a huge difference across the nation.
Clothes come in second, with 21% of those surveyed stating they can be put in the at-home recycling bin.
In contrast to items that are thought to be recyclable but aren’t, the survey shows there is also everyday household waste which British people are unaware can be recycled. This includes glass bottles, which 35% of respondents thought were not recyclable, and cartons, which 40% of respondents thought were not recyclable
Head of sustainability delivery at Barratt Homes, Gareth Rondel, said: “Sustainability and becoming more eco-friendly has never been more important, with households around the UK striving to contribute towards a greener planet.
“By becoming more mindful of what and how we are recycling, a small change in household behaviour can make a huge difference across the nation.
“Our study highlights the areas of recycling that Brits are unfamiliar with and, from this, we can work to educate ourselves on how we can improve our recycling habits.”
