Around 47% of UK adults say they struggle to tell what is recyclable and what isn’t, according to a new survey by waste management company Biffa.
The poll of 2,000 adults found some of the recyclable items that Brits think they have to put in the general waste bin, including glass jars, tin cans, and plastic takeaway containers.
The survey found that 16% were also unaware that metal bottle tops can be recycled, and 12% mistakenly thought tins should be disposed of in general waste bins.
44% of respondents also thought polystyrene is recyclable when it should be disposed of in general waste.
While 19% said they still only sometimes clean out dirty recyclables like jars or containers before disposing of them.
However, 42% said they have experienced “recycling guilt” after throwing an item in the general waste bin that they thought could have been recycled.
The study found that 69% of respondents think there should be more information available to help people to recycle properly.
It also found that 75% believe it should be made clearer on product packaging whether or not an item can be recycled.
Roger Wright, waste strategy & packaging manager at Biffa, which commissioned the research, said: “We can see from these findings that there are clearly good intentions when it comes to recycling.
“People care about the environmental impact of their rubbish, however, there is still a lot of confusion as to what can and can’t be recycled and many people are still struggling to get it right.
“Recycling rates across the UK have broadly stagnated, even declining in some regions, so it’s crucial we all play our part in helping the public understand what can and can’t be recycled.”
The research was published ahead of the upcoming Simpler Recycling legislation which requires all businesses with 10 or more full-time employees to separate plastic, paper, card, glass, metals and food waste from general waste from 31 March 2025 or it could result in a fine.
Carried out via OnePoll, the survey found that 53% of respondents are recycling multiple times a day at home, but this drops to 17% at work.
This is despite 45% believing recycling efforts have improved in their workplace in the last five years.
43% of respondents believe easier-to-understand guidelines would help them feel more confident in their recycling habits, while a third think incentives for recycling would help.
