North London Zero Waste Survey May 2022 - all boroughs results report
Summary of survey responses
Incineration future
Of all respondents 87% answered that they are concerned about the air pollution and climate change impacts of the incineration of our rubbish, and equally 87% would like their council to develop a strategy for a future without incineration, based on as much recycling and reuse as possible.
Recycling target
91% of respondents agree that their council should adopt the London Environment Strategy target for 65% recycling of household, business and commercial waste by 2030 as a minimum, 4% disagree, and 5% are not sure.
Recycling budget
85% of respondents answered that they feel their council’s recycling budget should be increased, 6.5% maintained, 2.3% reduced, and 6.2% is not sure. The ratio’s were similar for all 7 councils.
Incinerator rebuild
46% answered that they see the decision to rebuild the incinerator in Edmonton as a case of environmental racism versus 30% who are not sure and 24% who disagree, which increases to 59% when considering the combined responses from black, brown and other ethnic minority groups, versus 21% who are not sure and 20% who disagree.
Food waste collection
The majority of respondents without food waste caddies state that they would try using a food waste caddy if they would receive one from their council, this covers all properties including those with communal bins.
Food caddies
A key reason why respondents do not have food waste caddies is that a majority state they are not aware of the possibility to order a free food waste caddy from their council website.
Plastics collection
76% of respondents answered that they would be in favour of a separate bag or bin for all plastics from home, 18% were also in favour yet signalled they would not have space for an additional bin and a bag would be preferred.
Food waste composting
51% of respondents answered they would be interested in join a community composting scheme and bring their food waste to a composting site in a nearby park, allotment or garden, 11% responded they would volunteer to run the composting group, and 38% answered they are not interested in this or that there is no space for community composting near their household.
Nappies
Of parents using disposable nappies 41% responded they would be interested to try reusable nappies if they would be given a voucher. Indicating that about half of all parents in north London potentially would use reusable nappies.
Nappies
Of the 153 parent or carer respondents 65% responded that they would bring their nappies to a local collection point if they would be composted, 17% responded they would continue to use reusable nappies (26 out of 32 reusable nappy users), and 18% responded they would continue to put nappies in the rubbish.
Clothing
Of respondents in the 5 boroughs without a clothing collection service from home*, 89% stated they would use a clothing collection service from home, and 11% stated they would not.
Reuse and recycling centres
13% of respondents state they often drop off ‘other stuff’ at reuse and recycling centre, 51% a few times per year, and 36% almost never to never. The main reasons cited why respondents do not drop off wastes at reuse and recycling centres are the lack of car ownership and because they have never heard of these centres. 9% of all respondents stated they are not aware of their existence, and 20% do not use reuse and recycling centres because they don’t have a car or because it is too far to travel.
Key recommendations for north London councils
- To adopt the London Environment Strategy target for 65% recycling of household, business and commercial waste
by 2030 as a minimum target, as part of an overall strategy to work towards a future without incineration based on as much reuse and recycling as possible. - To evaluate what increases in the council’s budget are needed towards recycling infrastructure and operations to achieve this target, knowing that residents are positive about increasing recycling spending.
- To evaluate planning decision making procedures to ensure environmental justice and environmental racism is considered and taken into account.
- To improve communications and outreach to residents that food waste caddy’s are freely available and can be ordered through the council website, and consider a food waste caddy distribution programme.
- To increase access to communal food waste bins to flats and estates and other properties with communal bins to ensure full coverage of all properties within the council’s influence.
- In the specific case of Barnet and Enfield to evaluate which flats and estates and other properties with communal bins do not have access to communal dry recycling bins so as to ensure all properties have access.
- To carry out an outline business case evaluation for a local facility that can sort rubbish to extract as much as possible materials for recycling based on the latest technologies
- To carry out an outline business case evaluation for kerbside collections of all plastics in a separate bag or bin, with variants including a bag or bin for plastics, metals and drink cartons, also considering upcoming national legislative changes on waste and recycling collection.
- To further extend clothing collection services from home and evaluate a north London wide scheme for household clothing collections.
- To identify an organisation that is willing to officially support community composting schemes in north London and to support this organisation.
- To increase outreach efforts on the reusable nappy scheme to more parents across north London.
- To evaluate what possibilities there are to develop a system for compostable disposable nappies at an industrial composting site combined with nappy collection points at nurseries.
- To increase efforts in promoting north London’s reuse and recycling centres, as well as other routes for bulky waste collections.
