Less than a third of young people recycle plastic, according to a RECOUP/ PlasticsEurope survey of 4,100 18 – 24 year olds.
Only 29 per cent of young Britons, 24 per cent of Germans and 18 per cent of young Poles, dispose of plastics in a sustainable way.
The survey also found that across all age cohorts, half of consumers recycle all plastics after using them in the UK (45 per cent in the UK, 51 per cent in Germany, 35 per cent in Poland).
Consumers responded to RECOUP complaining they are confused and ill-informed about types of plastics accepted for recycling. In Poland, respondents cited other barriers, such as less willingness (17 per cent) or inconvenience (17 per cent).
In spite of their reticence to actually separate their plastics, 93 per cent of UK consumers still prefer recycling over landfilling and energy recovery. This result was echoed in both Germany at 95 per cent and Poland at 94 per cent.
Can recycling advocates engage the public perception of plastic in such a way that not one piece is sent to landfill? A mother teaches her daughter about household waste separation.
The study also shows that there is huge resistance among consumers to send plastic waste to landfills (Germany 70 per cent, Poland 74 per cent and the UK 82 per cent). Views are divided about burning waste - consumers in Germany (63 per cent) and the UK (70 per cent) are generally positive about energy recovery, while the Polish population is evenly split: 46 per cent and 45 per cent against.
The survey concludes that over half of consumers in each country are eager to know more about what happens to plastics once they are collected.
However, consumers are also less willing to pay more for the production of resource efficient products (43 per cent in the UK, 28 per cent in Germany and 30 per cent in Poland).
Kim Christiansen, Director North Region at PlasticsEurope said: “This research recognises the need of increased engagement with consumers. Plastics waste is a valuable resource and should be considered as such, under no circumstances should plastics be landfilled.
This is why, PlasticsEurope will continue its engagement in the UK, notably by organising the IdentiPlast conference on waste management in London during the first quarter of 2019”.
