How our habits have changed

BRAG AGM Tuesday 13th November 2012

Cindy Gardener

Waste and Recycling Officer

Regeneration, Economic Development and Environment

Background Information

• In 2006/2007 total population was recorded as 216,800 residents.

• By 2011/2012 total population had risen by 37,200 people to 254,000 residents.

• 93,311 properties with 69,595 with access to the recycling box and blue bag services.

What our recycling says about the way we live

A new study breaking down the recycling materials collected in Hounslow’s green recycling boxes and blue paper bags shows how our habits have changed over the last few years, the biggest being in the amount of paper and cardboard we recycle.

Paper and Cardboard recycling

• In 2006, 56 per cent of the material recycled was paper and 12 per cent card.

• Now the amount of paper recycled has more than halved, down to 27 percent, while cardboard has more than doubled, up to 27 per cent.

Why less paper and more cardboard?

• Less free newspapers delivered, with more online news websites.

• We are producing less paper in the home for example paying bills on line and sending emails instead of letters.

• More online shopping packed in cardboard

• Buying more goods that are cheaper to replace than to repair.

Other materials collected in the recycling box and blue bag

  2006/2007 - 2009/2010 2011/2012 2012/2013

Paper 56% 35.37% 27.42%Green Glass 15.64% 9.27% 9.16%Clear Glass 7.43% 14.30% 14.14%Brown Glass 2.80% 6.24% 6.17%Cans 3.80% 6.59% 11.83%Cardboard 12.28% 23.70% 27.39%Foil 0.02% 0.41% 0.74%Aerosols Not collected 0.32% 0.57%Mineral Oil 0.05% 0.37% 0.12%Car Batteries 0.23% 0.76% 0.36%Textiles 0.70% 1.25% 1.07%Yellow Pages 0.15% 0.51% 0.39%Small WEEE 0.10% 0.14% 0.16%Tetra Pak Not collected 0.77% 0.89%

Stillage comparison

Paper

Gre

en Gla

ss

Clear G

lass

Brown G

lass

Cans

Cardboard Foil

Aeroso

ls

Min

eral O

il

Car Batte

ries

Textile

s

Yellow P

ages

Small W

EEE

Wast

e

Tetra P

ak0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

2006/2007 - 2009/2010 2011/2012 2012/2013

Household waste and recycling

2006/2007

2007/2008

2008/2009

2009/2010

2010/2011

2011/2012

0

10000

20000

30000

40000

50000

60000

70000

HH collectedTotal SITA/ECT recycling

Drop in household waste in the last 5 years

• Biggest change is as a result of new services

• Impact of the recession also led to a drop off

• 8,000 less tonnes of waste collected as a result of the new services introduced in March 2009

• 20 per cent drop in household waste in the last 5 years

Garden waste and food waste

2006/2007 2007/2008 2008/2009 2009/2010 2010/2011 2011/20120

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

GWFood

We are collecting less food waste

• Residents have more awareness of wasting food

• National Campaign Love Food Hate Waste is easily recognised

Overall Recycling rate

2006/2007 2007/2008 2008/2009 2009/2010 2010/2011 2011/20120.00%

5.00%

10.00%

15.00%

20.00%

25.00%

30.00%

35.00%

40.00%

Overall %

That’s how our habits have changed – have yours?

Discussion