survey report: western australian households views … · plastic waste survey of wa households ......

PlasticWasteSurveyofWAHouseholds2017

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ReportbyColinAshton-Graham,ConsultingBehaviouralEconomist,fortheBoomerangAlliance

C o l i n A s h t o n - G r a h a m – B e h a v i o u r a l E c o n o m i s t P O B o x 1 0 9 9 D E N M A R K W A 6 3 3 3 E : c o l i n a s h t o n g r a h a m @ i i n e t . n e t . a u

SurveyReport:WesternAustralianHouseholdsViewsonPlasticWaste2017


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Contents

TableofContentsContents........................................................................................................................................................21 Executivesummary...........................................................................................................................32 Background.........................................................................................................................................42.1 Context..................................................................................................................................................42.2 Objectives..............................................................................................................................................42.3 Purposeofthisreport...........................................................................................................................5

3 Methodology........................................................................................................................................53.1 Evaluationdesign..................................................................................................................................53.2 Samplemanagement............................................................................................................................63.3 Dataanalysis..........................................................................................................................................7

4 KeyFindings........................................................................................................................................84.1 Communityconcern(abouttheimpactsofplastics).............................................................................84.2 Consumerbehaviours...........................................................................................................................9

4.2.1 Avoidingplastics..........................................................................................................................104.2.2 Barrierstoreusablebags.............................................................................................................114.2.3 Preferenceforalternativestobagsasbinliners.........................................................................11

4.3 Policysupport......................................................................................................................................134.3.1 Responsetoemergingpolicyissues.............................................................................................134.3.2 Changeinresponsetoinformationonthepropertiesofplastics................................................14

5 Conclusions.......................................................................................................................................16A. Appendix–SurveyInstrument..................................................................................................17B. Appendix–Communityresponsebygeographicalregion...............................................22C. Appendix–Communityresponsebyagegroup...................................................................26


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1 ExecutivesummaryThisreportpresentstheresultsofasurveyofarandomsampleoftheWesternAustralianadultpopulation(consistingof402residentsofallages,householdtypesandemploymentstatusacrossRegional and Metropolitan areas). The survey was designed to measure community concernregarding the environmental issues associated with plastics, to report choices that consumersmake in response to these concerns and to gauge support for the regulation of some plasticproducts.

Inadditiontoprovidingasnapshotofcommunityviewsandbehaviours, thesurveyusedatest-inform-retest approach to measure community response to the complex issues surroundingbiodegradableandcompostableplasticbags.

Thesurveywasconductedthroughtelephoneinterviews,withthetargetforavalidsampleof400respondentsbeingexceeded.

Thesurveyfoundthatthat:• Morethan90%ofthecommunityisconcernedabouttheenvironmentalissuesassociated

withplasticwaste(i.e.theimpactsonoceans,litter,wildlife,recyclingandlandfill)• Takingresponsibilityforavoidingtheconsumptionofplastics(e.g.refusingplasticshopping

bags, avoiding pre-packed produce and avoiding bottledwater) is practiced (‘always’ or‘mostofthetime’)bymorethan50%ofconsumers

• 65%ofconsumersexperiencebarrierstoavoidinglightweightplasticbags(e.g.forgettingtheirreusablebagsorpurchasingtoomanyitems)

• The vastmajority ofWestern Australians (84%) support a ban on lightweight single-useplasticbags,withjust7%opposedtosuchameasure

• Supportforincludingbiodegradableandcompostablebagsinthebanincreased,from69%to85%wheninformedthatthesebagtypesremainamarinepollutionandlandfillproblem(bynotbreakingdownrapidly)

• Support for bans on lightweight, biodegradable and compostable single-use plastic bagswasstrongacrossallregionsofWAandallagegroups.

Thesurveyalsoprovidesinsightsintoovercomingthebarrierstousingalternativestolightweightsingle-useplasticbagsandforsolutionstosecondaryusessuchashouseholdbinliners.


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2 Background2.1 ContextTheWesternAustralianGovernment announced its intention to implement a banon single-useplasticbagsfrom1July2018. Priortomakingadeterminationonthescopeofthebanandthepathwaytotheadoptionofalternativestosingle-useplasticbags,theDepartmentofWaterandEnvironmentalRegulation(DWER)isreleasingaDiscussionPaperontheissue.DWERengagedtheBoomerangAllianceto:

• Providetechnicaladviceontheenvironmental issuesassociatedwithsingle-usebagsandpotentialalternatives

• Assistwithstakeholderconsultation• Conductformativeresearchintocommunityperceptionsofplasticwasteandthebarriers

andbenefitsofchangingfromsingle-useplasticbagstoalternatives• DevelopaCommunityEducationPlantofacilitatethetransitiontothefinalformoftheban

onsingle-useplasticbags.In November 2017, the Boomerang Alliance engaged Colin Ashton-Graham, BehaviouralEconomist,toconductasurveyofcommunityperceptionsandbehavioursaroundplasticwaste.

2.2 ObjectivesTheCommunitySurveyaimsto:

• Gather information froma representative sampleof theWesternAustralian community,consistingofa:

o randomsampleofadultso statisticallyrobustsampleof400respondents(providinganerrormarginof+/-4.9%

at95%confidencelevel)o representativeofMetropolitan(n=250)andRegionalresidents(n=150)o representativeofalladultagegroups,householdstructuresandemploymentstatus

• Providemeasuresof:o strengthofcommunityconcernfortheenvironmentalandhealthissuesassociated

withplasticso currentconsumerchoicesinavoiding(choosingalternativesto)plasticproductso strengthof community support forpolicy and regulatorymeasures to reduce the

consumptionand/orlitteringofplasticso consumerbarrierstotheuptakeofreusableshoppingbagso consumer preferences for alternatives to using shopping bags as household bin

liners• Testcommunityresponsetoemergingevidencethatbiodegradableandcompostablebags

fail to break down quickly enough to protect themarine environment or to compost inlandfillconditions


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These requirements were delivered through a telephone survey, using a database of publiclyavailable landline andmobile telephone numbers (Sample Pages). The benefits of a telephonesurveymethodologyare:

• Thesurveyfieldworkeffortcanbestructured,bydayoftheweekandtimeofday,toreachalldemographicgroups

• Screeningquestionscanbeusedtoavoidover-representationofeasytoreachgroups(e.g.olderpersons)

• Highresponseratescanbeachieved,reducingthelikelihoodofabias(difference)amongstpersonsmoreinclinedtoself-completesurveys

• Trainedinterviewerscancodeunpromptedresponses,thusreducingthedegreetowhichsurveyresponseoptionsinfluencerespondents

2.3 PurposeofthisreportThisreportpresentstheresultsofthePlasticandWasteRecyclingSurveythatwasconductedinNovember2017toprovide:

• Asnapshotofcommunityconcernregardingtheenvironmentalimpactsofplastics• Measuresofconsumerchoicesregardingplasticproductsandalternatives• Strengthofcommunitysupportfortheregulationofarangeofplasticproducts• Barrierstotheadoptionofalternativestolightweightplasticshoppingbags

The results of the survey will inform the process to develop regulation of lightweight plasticshoppingbagsandprovideabenchmarkforfuturetrackingofcommunityawareness,behaviourandsentimentonotherplasticproducts.

3 Methodology3.1 EvaluationdesignThe survey was designed to achieve responses from a representative sample of the WesternAustralianadultpopulation,andhencetoprovideareliablemeasureofcommunityconcernandbehaviours.Thequestionnaire(seeAppendix1)includedmeasuresof:

• concern(aboutenvironmentalimpacts)• behaviours(consumerchoices)• support(forpolicyandregulatoryresponses)• response(toinformationonbiodegradableandcompostablebags)• barriers(totheadoptionofalternativestosingle-usebags)• stated preference (willingness to adopt alternatives to plastic bags for lining household

bins)• demographics

Manyofthesemeasureswerestructured(e.g.multiple-choiceorscalerating)toobtainthebestmeasureof quality issues. Measuresof awarenesswereunprompted, to avoid leadingbias. Atargetwassettosecure400surveyresponses,sufficienttoprovidemeasuresaccurateto+/-4.9%with95%confidencethattheresultsareaccurateandrepeatable.


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ThesurveywasdeployedbytelephoningarandomsampleoftheWApopulationandaskingfortheadultpersoninthehouseholdwhosebirthdaycomesupnext(thisbeingtorandomisetheageandgenderoftherespondentwithinreachhouseholdreached). Landlineandmobiletelephonenumberswereincludedtoensurethatthesamplewasrepresentativeoftheadultpopulation.

3.2 SamplemanagementThe survey commenced on 16November 2017 and closed on 21November, having conductedsurveysacrossweekdayandweekenddaytimeandevenings.Thesamplewasstructuredfrom4,192WApersons,including300to400personsineachoffourRegionsand2600personsinthePerthMetropolitanregion.Thissampleresultedin250numbersthatweredisconnected/wrong/mobiles no longer resident ofWAandhence the valid samplewas3,942members.Fromthisvalidsample:

• 1,080refusedtotakethesurvey(27%)• 2,063werenotcontactedpriortoclosingthesurvey(53%)• 799agreedtotakethesurvey(20%),ofthese:

o 57requestedacallback,butwerenotrequiredtofillthesurveyquotao 340werescreenedoutbecausetheirquota(byageorregion)wasfullo 402completedthesurvey

Thegeographicalrepresentationofresponseswas:

• 251fromPerthMetropolitan(PostCodes60xxand61xx)• 40fromPilbara,KimberleyandNorthGascoyne(PostCode67xx)• 41fromMidWest(PostCodes65xxand66xx)• 40fromtheSouthWest(postCodes62xxand63xx)• 30fromGoldfields,Esperance(PostCode64xx)

ThedemographicresponseswerebroadlyrepresentativeoftheWAadultpopulationexceptforadegreeofunder-representationofyoungerpersons (age18 to29years),personsnotemployed(retired,homeduties,seekingwork)andmales.ThedemographicsofthesurveyarecomparedtothedemographicsofWesternAustralia (2016Censusdata) in Figure1below. The surveybias,towards females, isconsideredappropriate for thetaskofmeasuringconsumerresponsetothebanningof lightweight single-usebags. This ‘fit for purpose’ sample is validatedby the finding(Figure2,below)that94%ofrespondentsengageingroceryshoppingweeklyormorefrequently.


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Figure1:SurveyresponsesamplecomparedtoWAdemographics

Surveygroup

WAABSdata

Age(%ofadultpopn): - 18to29years 11.6% 21.2%- 30to49years 32.0% 37.3%- 50to64years 42.21% 23.3%

- 65andolder 14.5% 18.1%Gender:

- Male 37.6% 50%- Female 62.4% 50%

Householdstructure: - Couplenochildrenat

home30.9% 28.5%

- Familywithchildren 44.9% 44.3%- Sharehouse 4.2% 3.8%- Singleoccupant 20.0% 23.5%

Employmentstatus: - Full-timeemployed 44.0% 37.5%- Part-timeemployed 26.9% 19.7%- Notemployed 29.21% 42.8%

3.3 DataanalysisThe data has been presented in graph or table format for the whole sample of 402 personsrepresentative of the Western Australian adult population. The headline measures are alsopresentedintables(appendixBandC)brokendownbygeographicalregionandagegroup.Thesurveysamplearedirectlyinvolvedingroceryshopping,with94%doingtheshopping‘aboutweekly’ormoreoften.


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Figure2:FrequencyofgroceryshoppingtripsbyWAadults

4 KeyFindingsThe survey responses are summarised under the themes of ‘Community concern’, ‘Consumerbehaviours’and‘Policysupport’.

4.1 Communityconcern(abouttheimpactsofplastics)Thesurveymeasuredthestrengthofrespondentsconcernforeachofsixissueswithplastics.Theresponsescalerangedfrom‘Veryconcerned’to‘Notatallconcerned’.Fromapolicyperspective,itisusefultonotetheextentofhighconcern(thetoptworesponseoptions)andthenetmeasureof concernacross the community (being the top two responseoptionsminus thebottom two).Wherethesemeasuresaresimilar,thereisastrongcommunityconsensusontheimportanceofanissue.Wherethemeasureofnetconcerndiffersfromthe‘toptwo’measure,thecommunityismoredividedovertheissue.Figure 3 shows that there is very strong and united concern across the community regardingplasticpollutionofwaterways,harmtowildlifeandpoorrecyclingandlandfilloutcomes.Thereisalso strong community concern,with divided opinion from a smallminority of the community,regardingthegreenhouseimpactsofplasticproductionandtheriskstohumanhealth.

8%

37%49%

4% 2%

Almostdaily

Afewtimesaweek

Aboutweekly

Aboutmonthly

Almostnever

Q5.Howfrequentlydoyou(personally)shopforgroceries?(n=402)


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Figure3:Strengthofcommunityconcernregardingplasticproductsandwaste

4.2 ConsumerbehavioursIn recent years there has been a trend towards consumers choosing alternatives to single-useplasticbagsatthegrocerycheckout.TherehasalsobeenstronggrowthinparticipationinPlasticFree July and the beginnings of a mainstream awareness of the waste associated with plasticbottles,strawsandtakeawaycoffeecups.This survey measures the degree to which avoiding common plastic products is becomingnormalised and the consistency of consumers in utilising alternatives to plastics. Of particularinterest are the barriers to adoption of the alternatives to single-use plastic bags. The surveyexplores the barriers to reusable bags and thewillingness of consumers to find alternatives torepurposingsingle-usebagsashouseholdbinliners.

60

55.7

70.9

62.4

76.9

75.1

29.6

28.6

24.1

30.1

20.9

22.1

2.2

4

0.5

2.5

0

0

5

9.5

3.5

3.7

1.5

2

3.2

2.2

1

1.2

0.7

0.7

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Manyplasticsareharmfultohumanhealth

Plasticsuseoilresourcesandcontributetoglobalwarming

Plasticsdon'tcompostorbreakdowninlandfill

Manyplasticscannotberecycled

Plasticlitterisharmingourwildlife

Plasticsenduppollutingourwaterwaysandocean

Veryconcerned Somewhatconcerned Can'tsay

Notveryconcerned Notatallconcerned

Strengthofconcern(top2):+97.3

+97.8

+92.5

+95.0

+84.3+89.6

Nettconcern(top2minusbottom2):+94.5

+95.5+87.6+90.5

+72.6+81.3

Q1Howconcernedareyouabouteachofthefollowingissueswithsingle-useplastics?(n=402)


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4.2.1 AvoidingplasticsMaking the choice to avoid plastic packaging is a ‘repeat behaviour’ rather than a once onlydecision.Thebestmeasureofrepeatbehavioursistotracktheconsistencywithwhichconsumerssubstituteaplasticfreesolution.Figure4:Consumerconsistencyinavoidingplasticproducts

TheresultsshowthatthevastmajorityofWesternAustraliansatleast‘sometimes’engageinchoiceswhichavoidplastics.Somebehaviourscanbeavoidedaltogether,suchas10%ofthepopulationneverbuyingcafédrinks.Otherbehavioursarewellnormalised,forexamplearound50%ofthecommunity‘almostalways’avoidingbottledwaterorprepackedproduce.Choosingtoavoidprepackedproducehasfewbarriersbecausemostsupermarketsofferfreshproducewiththepackedorlooseoptionsbothontheshelves.

Itisinterestingtoseethatrefusingplasticshoppingbagshasoneofthelowest‘almostalways’scores,showingthatthereisagapbetweentheintention(participatinginthebehaviouratleastsometimes)andtheactualbehaviour.Nudgestrategiescouldbeeffectiveinclosingthisgap.

25.9

31.3

38.3

53

47.3

31.6

10

13.4

12.4

26.4

20.4

22.6

10.2

16.2

13.4

12.9

13.2

22.6

7.2

8.7

8.7

3.7

6.5

6.2

30.6

20.1

16.4

3.5

10.4

15.9

16.2

10.2

10.7

0.5

2.2

1

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Lookforpersonalcareproducts(shampoos,toothpasteetc)thatdon'tcontainmicrobeads

Refusetakewaycoffeecups(bytakingyourownorsittingdowninthecafé)

Refusestrawswithcaféortakeawaydrinks

Avoidprepackedfruitandvegetables(choosinglooseproduce)

Avoidbuyingbottledwater(e.g.bytakingareusablebottle)

Refuseplasticshoppingbags(e.g.byusingyourownbag)

Almostalways Mostofthetime Sometimes Rarely Almostnever Notapplicable/notpossible

Q2Foreachofthechoicesbelow,pleasetellushowconsistentlyyouchoosealternativestosingle-useplastics?(n=402)


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It isalsointerestingtoseethataround16%ofthecommunity‘almostnever’refuseplasticshoppingbags. Regulating to removebagsas anoption is aneffective strategy to constrain the choicesof aminorityofconsumers.

4.2.2 BarrierstoreusablebagsGiven the complexity of the behaviours required to avoid single use plastic shopping bags, thesurveyexploredthebarriersto(consistent)action.Figure5:Barrierstoalwaysusingareusablebag(%ofrespondents)

Theseresponsesshowthatabout65%ofconsumersdonot,atleastsomeofthetime,usetheirownbagsforthegroceryshopping.Thesepeoplehave,onaverage,1.5issuesorreasonscausingthemtoneedtoacceptasingle-usebagatthecheckout. Themaincauseforneedingtoacceptsingle use bags comes down to not planning the shopping trip. A minority, around 7% ofconsumers make a more deliberate choice to consume single-use bags. Top amongst thesedeliberatechoicesistoreusethelightweightbagasabinlinerathome.

4.2.3 PreferenceforalternativestobagsasbinlinersConsistentwiththefindingthataround70%ofconsumersacceptlightweightplasticbagsatleastsomeofthetime,72%reportusingthesebagstolinethekitchenbin.

35.1

46.0

10.4

6.7

6.7

5.2

1.7

12.7

0.5

Nothing,Ialwaystakemyownbags

Iforgetmyownbags

WhenIhadnotplannedtoshopatall

IbuymorethanIhadplanned

Ineedthebagstouseasbinliners

Habit,Ialwaysuseplasticbags

I'mnotconcernedaboutplasticbags

Other(e.g.costorfootprintofalternative…

Notapplicable,Inevergroceryshop

Q6Whatpreventsyoufromtakingyourownreusablebagsforthegroceryshopping?(n=402)


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Figure6:Prevalenceofreusinglightweightplasticbags

The 291 respondents that reported using lightweight bags as bin linerswere then askedwhichalternative theywould adopt if lightweight bagswerebanned. Theynominated1.6 alternativesolutionsperhousehold.Figure7:Potentialalternativestousinglightweightbagsasbinliners(%ofrespondents)

50.2

36.4

33.3

18.9

14.8

8.2

Buyplasticbinbags

Storefoodscrapsinatubuntilbindayorcomposting

Washthebinoutregularly

Linethebinwithnewspaper

Putfoodscrapsinthefreezeruntilbinday

Other(e.g.usethewheeliebin,feedchooks)

72%

28%

Yes No

Q7.1.Doyoureuseyourplasticshoppingbagstolineyourkitchenbin?n=402

Q7.2Iflightweightplasticbagsweretobebanned,whichofthesealternativeswouldyouusetokeepyourkitchenbinclean??(n=291currentlyusinglightweightbagsasbinliners)


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Thepropensity of respondents tonominate alternatives tousing lightweight plastic bags as binliners, suggests that the community will adapt quickly to a single-use plastic bag ban. This isconsistentwithreportsfromotherjurisdictionswherethepurchasingofbinlinerbagsincreasedinitially,inresponsetoasingle-usebagban,andthendeclined.

4.3 PolicysupportInthecontextofthemultitudeofissueswithplasticproductsandthenumberofplasticproductsinregularuse,thesurveytestedthestrengthofcommunitysupportforsevenpolicyresponses.

4.3.1 Responsetoemergingpolicyissues

Similartotheearliermeasureofstrengthofconcernforenvironmentalissues,policysupport(oropposition)wasmeasuredonascaleresponse.Theproportionofthepopulationinfavourofeachpolicy initiative and the net support (being the support forminus the opposition to the policyinitiative)areusefulmeasurestoguidepolicymaking.There isstrongsupport foreachofthepolicymeasurestested,withverystrongsupport forthecontainerdeposit schemeand thebanon lightweightplasticbags. Neitherof these twopolicymeasuresattractedmuchopposition,resultinginverystrongnettsupport.Comparedtothelevelofsupportforabanonlightweightplasticbags,thesupportforextendingthebantobiodegradableandcompostablebagswaslowerat69%supportand52%netsupport(52%nett support translates into a two-thirdsmajority), although support convergedwhen theimpactsofbiodegradableandcompostablebagswasexplained;discussedat4.3.2below.


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Figure8:Communitysupportforpolicyandregulationtoreduceplasticwaste

4.3.2 Changeinresponsetoinformationonthepropertiesofplastics

It is likely thatmany respondentswere not aware that biodegradable and compostable plasticbagsdonotbreakdownquicklyinmarineorterrestrialenvironments,orinlandfill(theytypicallyrequire industrial composting). Having measured the policy support in the absence of thisrelevant information, respondents were informed of the issues and asked to rate the policyresponseagain.

45.3

38.6

53.2

66.9

40.3

37.1

57.7

26.4

28.1

31.6

25.6

30.1

32.1

25.9

15.9

21.1

9.5

4.2

14.7

13.4

9

3

7.7

4

2.5

10.4

12.7

5.2

1

1.5

1.2

0.7

4

4.2

2.2

8.5

3

0.5

0

0.5

0.5

0

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Abanonpersonalcareproducts(shampoos,toothpasteetc)that

containmicrobeads

Abanondeliberatereleasingofheliumpartyballoons

Supplierstoberesponsibleforrecyclingpackaging

A10centsrefundoneachplasticbottlereturnedforrecycling

Abanonallplasticbags

Abanonlightweightplasticandbiodegradable/compostablebags

(asproposedinQLD)

Abanonlightweightplasticbags(asinSA,NT,ACTandTAS)

Stronglysupport Support Neutral

Oppose Stronglyoppose Don'tknow

Strengthofsupport(top2):+83.6+69.2

+70.4

+92.5

+84.8

+66.7

+71.6

Nettsupport(top2minusbottom2):+76.1+52.2+56.0

+89.3

+79.6+57.5

+67.7

Q3Howstronglydoyousupportoropposeeachofthefollowingmethodstoreduceplasticpollution?(n=402)


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Figure9:Changeinsupportforabanonbiodegradableandcompostablebags,followingpresentationoftheissues(comparedtosupportforabanonlightweightplasticbagsonly)

Providinginformationonthelimitationsofbiodegradableandcompostablebagshastheeffectofshiftingcommunitysupportforabanonthesebagtypestothesamelevelofsupportasabanonstandard lightweight bags. Providing the information changed the nett support (i.e.% supportminus%oppose)forabanonbiodegradableandcompostablelightweightplasticbagsfrom+52.2to+78.4.

0 0.5 0.52.2 4.2 15.2

12.7

5.5

9

13.4

8.2

25.9

32.1

26.1

57.7

37.1

58.7

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Supportforabanonlightweightbags(ONLY)

Supportforextendingthebantobio/compostable

bags(WITHOUTinformation)

Supportforextendingthebantobio/compostablebags(WITHinformation)

Stronglysupport

Support

Neutral

Oppose

Stronglyoppose

Don'tknow

Q4Studieshaveshownthatbiodegradableandcompostablebagsdon’tbreakdownproperlyinlandfillorinwaterways.Consideringthisfinding,howstronglydoyousupportoroppose?(n=402)

Nettsupport(top2minusbottom2):

+52.2


+78.4

WithInfo


+76.1


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5 ConclusionsThe community in Western Australia is very concerned about the impacts of plastics on theenvironment. This concern can be used to frame communications in support of a ban onlightweight single-use plastic bags and on the practical behaviour changes that householdswillneedtomakeinadaptingtotheban.Thereissomedisconnectbetweentheconcernsofthecommunityandindividualactiontoavoidtheconsumption,disposalandlitteringofplastics.Suchdisconnectsarecommonbecauseactionsaredrivenbyprevailingbehaviouralnorms,ratherthanbyattitudes.The attitude-behaviour disconnect, combined with the very strong community support forregulatoractionwillmakeabanonlightweightsingle-useplasticbagseffectiveanddurable.Thecommunityresponseto informationontheproblemswithbiodegradableandcompostablebagsshowsthatinclusionofthesebagtypesinthebanwillbewidelyaccepted.ThecommunityviewonplasticbagavoidanceisverysimilarinstrengthtocommunitysupportofWaterwise messages in Western Australia. There are only very small variations in attitudes,behavioursandpolicysupportacrosstheregionsofWesternAustraliaandacrossagegroups.Themajor communications challengeswith the introduction of a ban on lightweight single-useplastic bags, including biodegradable and compostable types, are to assist consumers toremembertheirreusablebagsandtobeawareofthealternatives(boxesorpurchaseofdurablebags)atthecheckout.Secondary use issues, such as households repurposing lightweight shopping bags as bin liners,appearseasilyresolvedthroughnormingthevarietyofsolutionsthatarealreadybeingadoptedbyhouseholds.


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A. Appendix–SurveyInstrument

BoomerangAlliance–PlasticWasteandRecyclingSurvey

Hello,I’m<name>callingfromThinkfieldonbehalfoftheBoomerangAlliance.WearedevelopingresourcestohelpWAhouseholdstoAvoid,Reduce,ReuseandRecycleplastics.Todothisweneedyourviewsonhowweuseanddisposeofcommon“single-use”plastics.Thesurveywilltakeabout6minutes.

CanIspeaktothepersoninthehouseholdwhoisover18yearsoldandwhosebirthdayisnext?[REPEATINTROIFNEWRESPONDENTCOMEONTHELINE]Ifyouhaveafewminuteswecanrunthroughthesurveynow.[NOTETOINTERVIEWER:IftherespondentaskswhotheBoomerangAllianceis,theyareanotforprofitassociationofcommunityandconservationgroupsworkingtoreduceplasticpollution.NopersonalinformationwillbeprovidedfromthesurveytoBoomerangAlliance]OK=proceedNOTHANKS[AVOID]=closeNOTIMENOW=arrangecallbackiftherespondentasksforthat: Name_______________________ BestNumber_________________ Bestday/time________________

Firstly,somequestionsaboutyourhousehold.

A.Whatisthepostcodeforthesuburbyoulivein?• ____________________• Don’tknow

Ifpostcode‘Don’tknow’,recordhomesuburb______________________ B.Whatage-groupareyouin?

• 18-19

• 20-24

• 25-29

• 30-34

• 35-39

• 40-44

• 45-49


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• 50-54

• 55-59

• 60-64

• 65andover

• Rathernotsay[AVOID]

C.Recordgender[DONOTREADOUT]

• Male

• Female

[CHECKQUOTASANDCLOSEIFQUOTAISFULL]

Now,somequestionsaboutyourviewsonplasticwaste,recyclingandtheenvironment.

1.Howconcernedareyouabouteachofthefollowingissueswithsingle-useplastics:

ISSUE Veryconcerned

Somewhatconcerned

Notveryconcerned

Notatallconcerned

Can’tsay/don’tknow

Plasticsenduppollutingourwaterwaysandocean

Plasticlitterisharmingourwildlife Manyplasticscannotberecycled Plasticsdon’tcompostorbreakdowninlandfill

Plasticsuseoilresourcesandcontributetoglobalwarming

Manyplasticsareharmfultohumanhealth


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2.Foreachofthechoicesbelow,pleasetellushowconsistentlyyouchoosealternativestosingle-useplastics:ACTION Almost

alwaysMostofthetime

Sometimes

Rarely Almostnever

Other:(Notapplicable/notpossible/don’tknow)

Refuseplasticshoppingbags(e.g.byusingyourownbag)

Avoidbuyingbottledwater(e.g.bytakingareusablebottle)

Avoidpre-packedfruitandvegetables(choosinglooseproduce)

Refusestrawswithcaféortake-awaydrinks

Refusetake-awaycoffeecups(bytakingyourownorsittingdowninthecafé)

Lookforpersonalcareproducts(bodywash,toothpasteetc.)thatdon’tcontainplasticmicrobeads

3.Howstronglydoyousupportoropposeeachofthefollowingmethodstoreduceplasticpollution?ACTION Strongly

supportSupport Neutral Oppose Strongly

opposeDon’tknow[AVOID]

Abanonlightweightplasticbags(similartothebansinSouthAustralia,NorthernTerritory,ACTandTasmania)

Abanonlightweightplasticandbiodegradable/compostablebags(similartotheproposedbaninQueensland)

Abanonallplasticbags A10centsrefundoneachplasticbottlereturnedforrecycling

Supplierstoberesponsibleforrecyclingpackaging

Abanondeliberatereleasingofheliumpartyballoons

Abanonpersonalcareproducts(bodywash,toothpasteetc.)thatcontainplasticmicrobeads


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4.Studieshaveshownthatbiodegradableandcompostablebagsdon’tbreakdownproperlyinlandfillorinwaterways.Consideringthisfinding,howstronglydoyousupportoroppose?ACTION Strongly

supportSupport Neutral Oppose Strongly

opposeDon’tknow[AVOID]

Abanonlightweightplasticandbiodegradable/compostablebags

5.Howfrequentlydoyou(personally)shopforgroceries?

• Almostdaily

• Afewtimesaweek

• Aboutweekly

• Aboutmonthly

• Almostnever

6.Whatpreventsyoufromtakingyourownreusablebagsforthegroceryshopping?[DONOTPROMPT,ACCEPTMULTIPLE]

• Nothing,IALWAYStakemyownbags

• Iforgetmyownbags

• IbuymorethanIhadplanned

• WhenIhadnotplannedtoshopatall

• Ineedthebagstouseasbinliners

• Habit,Ialwaysuseplasticbags

• I’mnotconcernedaboutplasticbags

• Other,specify_____________________________

• Notapplicable/Inevergroceryshop

7.1Doyoureuseplasticshoppingbagstolineyourkitchenbin?

• Yes

• No

[IF6.1=No,goto7]7.2Iflightweightplasticbagsweretobebanned,whichofthesealternativeswouldyouusetokeepyourkitchenbinclean?[ACCEPTMULTIPLE]

• Storefoodscrapsinareusabletubuntilbindayorcomposting


21

• Putfoodscrapsintothefreezeruntilbinday

• Linethebinwithnewspaper

• Washthebinoutregularly(noliner)

• Buyplasticbinbags

• Other,specify__________________

Finally,acoupleofquestionsaboutyourhousehold.

8.Whichofthefollowingbestdescribesyourhousehold

• Singleoccupant

• Couplewithnochildrenathome

• Familywithchildrenathome

• Sharehouse

• Other,specify____________________-

9.Areyoucurrentlyinpaidemploymentatall,part-timeorfull-time

• Notatall

• Parttime

• Fulltime(35hrsaweekormore)

• Rathernotsay[AVOID]

Thankyouforyourhelp.Our Privacy Act statement is: As this ismarket research, it is carried out in compliancewith the Privacy Act and theinformationyouprovidedwillbeusedforresearchpurposesonly. UnderthePrivacyActyouhavetherighttorequestaccesstotheinformationyouhaveprovideduntilthistime. Ifyouhaveanyqueries,youcancalltheMarketResearchSociety’sfreeSurveyLineon1300364830.


22

B. Appendix–Communityresponsebygeographicalregion

Metro South West

Goldfield Esperance

Mid West

Kimberly Pilbara

All Areas

Q1_1 Plastics end up polluting our waterways and ocean

Very concerned 73% 78% 80% 78% 78% 75%

Somewhat concerned 24% 20% 17% 17% 20% 22%

Not very concerned 2% 0% 0% 5% 3% 2%

Not at all concerned 0% 3% 3% 0% 0% 1%

Can’t say/ don’t know 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%

Q1_2 Plastic litter is harming our wildlife

Very concerned 76% 85% 73% 78% 78% 77%





Q1_3 Many plastics cannot be recycled

Very concerned 57% 78% 77% 61% 70% 62%





Q1_4 Plastics don’t compost or breakdown in landfill

Very concerned 69% 78% 67% 76% 75% 71%





Q1_5 Plastics use oil resources and contribute to global warming

Very concerned 56% 55% 53% 49% 63% 56%





Q1_6 Many plastics are harmful to human health

Very concerned 58% 63% 63% 63% 65% 60%






23

Metro South West

Goldfield Esperanc

e

Mid West

Kimberly Pilbara

All Areas

Q2_1 Refuse plastic shopping bags (e.g. by using your own bag)

Almost always 31% 23% 37% 46% 25% 32%

Most of the time 23% 30% 33% 15% 15% 23%

Sometimes 24% 28% 7% 15% 33% 23%

Rarely 6% 8% 7% 5% 5% 6%

Almost never 16% 13% 17% 20% 15% 16%

Other: (Not applicable/ not possible/ don’t know)

0% 0% 0% 0% 8% 1%

Q2_2 Avoid buying bottled water (e.g. by taking a reusable bottle)

Almost always 48% 55% 40% 54% 35% 47%

Most of the time 22% 15% 20% 22% 15% 20%

Sometimes 16% 8% 10% 0% 18% 13%

Rarely 5% 5% 10% 5% 15% 6%

Almost never 8% 13% 13% 15% 15% 10%


1% 5% 7% 5% 3% 2%

Q2_3 Avoid prepacked fruit and vegetables (choosing loose produce)

Almost always 51% 45% 47% 66% 63% 53%

Most of the time 27% 33% 27% 24% 20% 26%

Sometimes 13% 18% 17% 5% 13% 13%

Rarely 5% 3% 7% 0% 0% 4%

Almost never 4% 3% 3% 5% 3% 3%


0% 0% 0% 0% 3% 0%

Q2_4 Refuse straws with café or takeaway drinks

Almost always 38% 40% 30% 41% 40% 38%

Most of the time 13% 13% 10% 10% 15% 12%

Sometimes 16% 8% 17% 7% 8% 13%

Rarely 8% 10% 10% 10% 13% 9%

Almost never 18% 13% 13% 12% 20% 16%


8% 18% 20% 20% 5% 11%

Q2_5 Refuse takeaway coffee cups (by taking your own or sitting down in the café)

Almost always 33% 38% 37% 29% 15% 31%

Most of the time 12% 23% 7% 17% 18% 13%

Sometimes 17% 13% 3% 17% 23% 16%

Rarely 10% 8% 10% 5% 3% 9%

Almost never 22% 8% 17% 17% 30% 20%


7% 13% 27% 15% 13% 10%

Q2_6 Look for personal care products (shampoos, toothpaste etc.) that don’t contain plastic microbeads

Almost always 27% 28% 10% 24% 28% 26%

Most of the time 10% 13% 13% 7% 10% 10%

Sometimes 11% 3% 3% 17% 10% 10%

Rarely 6% 8% 17% 10% 3% 7%

Almost never 29% 30% 33% 24% 43% 31%


16% 20% 23% 17% 8% 16%


24

Metro South West

Goldfield Esperance

Mid West

Kimberly Pilbara

All Areas

Q3_1 A ban on lightweight plastic bags (similar to the bans in South Australia, Northern Territory, ACT and Tasmania)

Strongly support 57% 58% 63% 63% 55% 58%

Support 29% 30% 13% 15% 25% 26%

Neutral 9% 8% 7% 15% 8% 9% Oppose 4% 3% 13% 5% 13% 5%

Strongly oppose 2% 3% 3% 2% 0% 2% Don’t know [AVOID] 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%

Q3_2 A ban on lightweight plastic and biodegradable/compostable bags (similar to the proposed ban in Queensland)


Support 34% 40% 20% 22% 33% 32% Neutral 17% 8% 3% 10% 10% 13% Oppose 10% 15% 13% 20% 18% 13% Strongly oppose 4% 5% 7% 2% 3% 4%

Don’t know [AVOID] 1% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%

Q3_3 A ban on all plastic bags Strongly support 38% 43% 57% 39% 40% 40%

Support 30% 25% 23% 34% 38% 30%

Neutral 16% 18% 10% 15% 5% 15%

Oppose 11% 13% 3% 7% 13% 10%

Strongly oppose 4% 3% 7% 5% 5% 4%

Don’t know [AVOID] 1% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%

Q3_4 A 10 cents refund on each plastic bottle returned for recycling


Support 29% 20% 10% 27% 23% 26%

Neutral 5% 3% 0% 10% 0% 4%

Oppose 2% 3% 7% 2% 3% 2%


Don’t know [AVOID] 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%

Q3_5 Suppliers to be responsible for recycling packaging Strongly support 52% 55% 60% 46% 60% 53%

Support 35% 28% 23% 34% 20% 32%

Neutral 8% 13% 13% 10% 13% 9%

Oppose 4% 5% 3% 7% 3% 4%


Don’t know [AVOID] 0% 0% 0% 2% 3% 0%

Q3_6 A ban on deliberate releasing of helium party balloons Strongly support 36% 43% 43% 46% 40% 39%

Support 29% 28% 20% 29% 25% 28% Neutral 23% 20% 23% 12% 20% 21% Oppose 9% 3% 3% 5% 13% 8%


Don’t know [AVOID] 2% 8% 3% 5% 3% 3%

Q3_7 A ban on personal care products (shampoos, toothpaste etc.) that contain plastic microbeads


Support 27% 18% 23% 37% 23% 26% Neutral 19% 15% 10% 12% 8% 16%

Oppose 3% 0% 0% 5% 5% 3% Strongly oppose 1% 0% 3% 0% 3% 1% Don’t know [AVOID] 7% 5% 10% 15% 13% 8%

Q4_1 A ban on lightweight plastic and biodegradable/ compostable bags (With information)


Support 26% 28% 17% 24% 33% 26%

Neutral 8% 8% 7% 12% 8% 8%

Oppose 4% 5% 10% 5% 10% 5% Strongly oppose 1% 0% 0% 2% 0% 1%

Don’t know [AVOID] 1% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%


25

Metro South West

Goldfield Esperanc

e

Mid West

Kimberlry Pilbara

All Areas

Q5. How frequently do you (personally) shop for groceries?

Almost daily 10% 8% 3% 2% 5% 8%

A few times a week 36% 43% 33% 27% 50% 37% About weekly 48% 45% 60% 59% 38% 49% About monthly 3% 3% 3% 10% 5% 4% Almost never 3% 3% 0% 2% 3% 2% Q6_What prevents you from taking your own reusable bags for the grocery shopping?

Q6_1 Nothing, I ALWAYS take my own bags

30% 40% 57% 49% 30% 35%

Q6_2 I forget my own bags 49% 48% 37% 34% 43% 46%

Q6_3 I buy more than I had planned

6% 5% 7% 0% 18% 7%

Q6_4 When I had not planned to shop at all

12% 10% 10% 2% 13% 10%

Q6_5 I need the bags to use as bin liners

8% 10% 0% 5% 0% 7%

Q6_6 Habit, I always use plastic bags

6% 8% 0% 2% 5% 5%

Q6_7 I’m not concerned about plastic bags

1% 0% 7% 5% 0% 2%

Q6_8 Other, specify 15% 5% 10% 12% 8% 13%

Q6_9 Not applicable/ I never grocery shop

0% 0% 0% 0% 3% 0%

7.1 Do you reuse plastic shopping bags to line your kitchen bin?

Yes 71% 78% 70% 73% 78% 72%

No 29% 23% 30% 27% 23% 28%

Q7_If lightweight plastic bags were to be banned, which of these alternatives would you use to keep your kitchen bin clean?

Q7_2_1 Store food scraps in a reusable tub until bin day or composting

36% 45% 52% 27% 29% 36%

Q7_2_2 Put food scraps into the freezer until bin day

14% 26% 0% 10% 23% 15%

Q7_2_3 Line the bin with newspaper

19% 29% 33% 13% 6% 19%

Q7_2_4 Wash the bin out regularly (no liner)

30% 52% 43% 33% 26% 33%

Q7_2_5 Buy plastic bin bags

54% 48% 38% 37% 48% 50%

Q7_2_6 Other, specify 5% 6% 14% 23% 10% 8%


26

C. Appendix–Communityresponsebyagegroup 18-34 35-54 55+ All

Ages Q1_1 Plastics end up polluting our waterways and ocean

Very concerned 59% 78% 79% 75%

Somewhat concerned 37% 20% 19% 22%

Not very concerned 3% 2% 1% 2%

Not at all concerned 1% 0% 1% 1%

Can’t say/ don’t know 0% 0% 0% 0%

Q1_2 Plastic litter is harming our wildlife Very concerned 72% 79% 77% 77%





Q1_3 Many plastics cannot be recycled Very concerned 41% 63% 70% 62%





Q1_4 Plastics don’t compost or breakdown in landfill






Q1_5 Plastics use oil resources and contribute to global warming






Q1_6 Many plastics are harmful to human health







27

18-34 35-54 55+ All

Ages Q2_1 Refuse plastic shopping bags (e.g. by using your own bag)

Almost always 28% 31% 34% 32%

Most of the time 18% 24% 23% 23%

Sometimes 21% 26% 20% 23%

Rarely 9% 7% 4% 6%

Almost never 25% 11% 17% 16%


0% 1% 1% 1%

Q2_2 Avoid buying bottled water (e.g. by taking a reusable bottle)



Sometimes 16% 16% 9% 13%

Rarely 6% 8% 5% 7%

Almost never 12% 7% 13% 11%


0% 1% 4% 2%

Q2_3 Avoid prepacked fruit and vegetables (choosing loose produce)



Sometimes 7% 16% 12% 13%

Rarely 6% 5% 2% 4%



1% 1% 0% 1%

Q2_4 Refuse straws with café or takeaway drinks



Sometimes 16% 19% 7% 14%

Rarely 9% 10% 7% 9%

Almost never 26% 13% 16% 17%


3% 5% 20% 11%

Q2_5 Refuse takeaway coffee cups (by taking your own or sitting down in the café)



Sometimes 22% 19% 11% 16%

Rarely 10% 8% 9% 9%

Almost never 29% 18% 19% 20%


4% 9% 14% 10%

Q2_6 Look for personal care products (shampoos, toothpaste etc.) that don’t contain plastic microbeads



Sometimes 10% 11% 10% 10%

Rarely 7% 10% 5% 7%

Almost never 32% 31% 30% 31%


10% 16% 19% 16%


28

18-34 35-54 55+ All

Ages Q3_1 A ban on lightweight plastic bags (similar to the bans in South Australia, Northern Territory, ACT and Tasmania)

Strongly support 53% 57% 60% 58%

Support 24% 28% 24% 26% Neutral 16% 7% 8% 9% Oppose 6% 6% 4% 5% Strongly oppose 1% 2% 3% 2% Don’t know [AVOID] 0% 0% 0% 0% Q3_2 A ban on lightweight plastic and biodegradable/compostable bags (similar to the proposed ban in Queensland)


Support 29% 36% 30% 32% Neutral 26% 10% 11% 13% Oppose 7% 15% 13% 13% Strongly oppose 4% 2% 7% 4% Don’t know [AVOID] 0% 1% 1% 1% Q3_3 A ban on all plastic bags Strongly support 37% 38% 44% 40%

Support 31% 35% 26% 30% Neutral 24% 9% 16% 15% Oppose 7% 12% 10% 11% Strongly oppose 1% 5% 4% 4% Don’t know [AVOID] 0% 1% 0% 1% Q3_4 A 10 cents refund on each plastic bottle returned for recycling


Support 22% 30% 23% 26% Neutral 9% 2% 5% 4% Oppose 0% 2% 4% 3% Strongly oppose 0% 1% 1% 1% Don’t know [AVOID] 0% 0% 0% 0% Q3_5 Suppliers to be responsible for recycling packaging


Support 34% 34% 29% 32% Neutral 12% 7% 11% 10% Oppose 3% 3% 5% 4% Strongly oppose 1% 2% 1% 1% Don’t know [AVOID] 0% 0% 1% 1% Q3_6 A ban on deliberate releasing of helium party balloons


Support 19% 38% 23% 28% Neutral 41% 15% 19% 21% Oppose 9% 8% 7% 8% Strongly oppose 0% 1% 3% 2% Don’t know [AVOID] 1% 1% 5% 3% Q3_7 A ban on personal care products (shampoos, toothpaste etc.) that contain plastic microbeads


Support 35% 27% 22% 27% Neutral 24% 15% 14% 16% Oppose 0% 3% 4% 3% Strongly oppose 1% 1% 1% 1% Don’t know [AVOID] 1% 8% 11% 9% Q4_1 A ban on lightweight plastic and biodegradable/ compostable bags (With information)


Support 41% 25% 22% 26% Neutral 12% 8% 7% 8% Oppose 1% 6% 7% 6% Strongly oppose 1% 0% 2% 1% Don’t know [AVOID] 0% 1% 0% 1%


29

18-34 35-54 55+ All Ages

Q5. How frequently do you (personally) shop for groceries?

Almost daily 4% 9% 8% 8%

A few times a week 26% 39% 40% 37%

About weekly 59% 48% 45% 49%

About monthly 7% 2% 4% 4%


Q6_What prevents you from taking your own reusable bags for the grocery shopping?

Q6_1 Nothing, I ALWAYS take my own bags

26% 33% 41% 35%

Q6_2 I forget my own bags 50% 45% 44% 46%

Q6_3 I buy more than I had planned

7% 9% 4% 7%

Q6_4 When I had not planned to shop at all

13% 11% 9% 11%

Q6_5 I need the bags to use as bin liners

3% 7% 8% 7%

Q6_6 Habit, I always use plastic bags

7% 7% 2% 5%

Q6_7 I’m not concerned about plastic bags

1% 1% 2% 2%

Q6_8 Other, specify 22% 12% 10% 13%

Q6_9 Not applicable/ I never grocery shop

0% 1% 1% 1%

7.1 Do you reuse plastic shopping bags to line your kitchen bin?

Yes 69% 78% 69% 73%

No 31% 22% 31% 28%

Q7_If lightweight plastic bags were to be banned, which of these alternatives would you use to keep your kitchen bin clean?

Q7_2_1 Store food scraps in a reusable tub until bin day or composting

38% 36% 36% 36%

Q7_2_2 Put food scraps into the freezer until bin day

4% 23% 10% 15%

Q7_2_3 Line the bin with newspaper

15% 19% 20% 19%

Q7_2_4 Wash the bin out regularly (no liner)

28% 36% 32% 33%

Q7_2_5 Buy plastic bin bags

68% 48% 46% 50%

Q7_2_6 Other, specify 0% 6% 14% 8%

survey report: western australian households views … · plastic waste survey of wa households ......

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