The Recycling Tracker is the largest and longest running survey on recycling attitudes, values and behaviours. The Spring 2021 survey had a detailed focus on contamination, with previous waves of the tracker pointing to an increasing trend.
The March 2021 wave was undertaken with a total of 4,725 UK adults from 6-12 March 2021. Overall, the survey demonstrates the following:
The Tracker results demonstrate four key findings about recycling behaviour:
- Overall levels of recycling are high and an established norm: Almost nine in ten (88%) UK households say they ‘regularly’ recycle.
- Just over half of UK households (52%) say they have recycled more in the past year: either an item they were not previously recycling or one they were already recycling but now do so more often.
- There remain opportunities to increase recycling capture: over half (55%) of UK households put one or more items in the general rubbish that is collected for recycling kerbside (1.6 items on average).
- There is also a key opportunity to reduce contamination: the majority (85%) of UK households put one or more items in the recycling that is not accepted locally (4.4 items on average).
- When missed capture and contamination are combined close to one in four (24%) UK households classify as the highest performing recyclers (because they dispose of 0-2 items incorrectly). In contrast, one in five (20%) classify as lower performing recyclers (because they dispose of 10+ items incorrectly).
The research also took a closer look at contamination and its causes.
The research suggests that contamination is largely the result of well-intentioned or misplaced attempts to recycle, as opposed to a lack of concern or care. For example, of those mistakenly putting drinking glasses in the recycling, the vast majority (86%) think that it is accepted in their kerbside collection.
The same pattern is true for other key contaminants, such as toothpaste tubes (84% think it is accepted in their collection) and light bulbs (72%).
Download the full report, summary slides and key findings infographic below.
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