Britain's Recycling Record Substandard

The UK is currently seen as the worst country in Europe at protecting the environment, according to the latest Yellow Pages Annual Recycling Survey. Sweden is ranked the greenest country in Europe, with Germany a close second.

The new survey also suggests the UK Government has a huge task ahead to improve its perceived record on the environment, being awarded an average of just 4.9 marks out of ten for its performance. Local authorities do slightly better, scoring an average of 5.7 out of ten.

On the domestic front, households show a dwindling track record on recycling with a worrying 16% of people polled admitting to recycling nothing at all. This is up from 13% in the previous survey. Meanwhile, 31% say they recycle 'only a small amount', down from 35%. Asked why they do not do more, a third of households who say they recycle nothing, or 'only a small amount', say they cannot be bothered. Three in ten say their nearest site is too far away, while 16% say they mean to do more, but just never get round to it.

At the same time, just over half (53%) - of UK households do, however, claim to recycle everything or 'quite a lot'. This is similar to the 52% recorded in the previous survey. Of those who do recycle, the latest survey shows an increase in the recycling of newspapers and magazines, glass, cardboard, plastics and garden produce.

The majority of people surveyed - eight out of ten - buy recycled goods though, with recycled toilet paper top of the poll. And 60% of all respondents are willing to pay more for goods with a perceived environmental benefit. When asked what was the most polluting item they use, one in five people single out their car, 39% of whom would be willing to swap the motor for something more environmental.

Additionally, half of all respondents claim to be interested in knowing about a company's environmental track record and 12% have boycotted a company because of it. But the perception amongst almost a quarter is that companies are doing more for the environment today than they were five years ago. Asked to name the nation's 'green heroes', 29% cite the environmental organisation, Greenpeace and four percent, Friends of the Earth. Meanwhile oil and petro-chemical companies are seen as our environmental 'villains'.

Richard Duggleby, head of external relations at Yell, said 'This survey shows that many people in the UK are environmentally aware. I think there is also a message for government and business - we need to work together to ensure the public's interest in recycling is turned into positive action.'

The Yellow Pages Annual Recycling Survey was carried out by FDS International in October 2001. The study is a repeat of other studies carried out in the autumn of 1998, 1999 and 2000 among a nationally representative random sample of 2,000 households. Yellow Pages sponsors The Directory Recycling Scheme that works with local councils to increase the opportunities for recycling Yellow Pages.

All articles 2006-22 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas unless otherwise stated.

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