Waste

• Waste Minimisation Act 2008
• Progress and outcomes
• Waste Strategy
• Waste Streams
• Waste data

Behaviour selection survey

The results of mailed survey from 1930 people participating in the Auckland Regional Councils programme "The Big Clean Up" helped to select the rubbish reduction behaviours for Reduce Your Rubbish. The survey asked people to rank the following behaviours as "easy to do", "not so easy", "difficult", and "would not do":

1. Composting your garden rubbish and kitchen scraps at home
2. Mulching your garden waste and using it on your lawn and garden
3. Separating your garden waste and taking it to a transfer station
4. Planting natives and other plants that require less pruning
5. Choosing to buy products with less packaging
6. Buying economy-size products, concentrates and refills
7. Looking for and buying products with the 'Environmental Choice' logo
8. Saying no to plastic bags - taking your own shopping bag(s)
9. Sticking a no circular / junk mail message on your mail box
10. Choosing products made from recyclable packaging - cardboard, paper, glass, cans, and plastic types 1 and 2
11. Recycling your cardboard, paper glass, cans and plastics

Based on the results the three behaviours that were chosen as the focus for the social marketing campaign were:

• Recycle your cardboard, paper glass, cans and plastic types 1 and 2
• Compost your garden rubbish and kitchen scraps at home
• Buy products with less or recyclable packaging

The post campaign evaluation suggested that the campaign would have been much more effective if it selected only one, simple, behaviour.

The following report provides more detailed information on responses provided for each behaviour:

1) Recycle as much as you can. Call you local council to find out about your local services

2) Recycle your cardboard, paper, glass, cans, and plastics types 1 and 2 (check the number on the base of the container)

Survey related action: Recycling your cardboard, paper, glass, cans and plastics

EASY TO DO - 95.8%
NOT SO EASY - 2.4%
DIFFICULT -0.7%
N/A or WOULDN’T DO IT - 1.1%

Easy to do

The easy to dos mostly commented that they have established recycling as a habit, so they find it easy to remember. They are generally pleased with kerbside recycling facilities and find these convenient.

Reasons for Not So Easy/Difficulty of action

• No kerbside recycling facility
• No convenient drop off area, no transport available.
• Hazmobile is hard to get to
• Major issue mentioned in relation to recycling is the types of plastic that can be recycled and those that can’t - respondents often commented on the frustration they find at the limited amounts of products made with type 1 and 2 plastic, and the fact that so many common items (such as takeaway containers, meat trays, ice cream and spread containers, seed containers etc...) are all still type 5 or something that cannot be put out for collection.
• RODNEY - there were quite a few comments specifically from people in Rodney district who do not have Kerbside recycling and find the drop off facilities very limited and very difficult to use. They all have a desire to recycle but currently find it very time consuming and difficult

What they want done to improve ease of action

• They want council and government to take action on the plastic types issue, and find ways of recycling a wider range or plastic grades or put more pressure on manufacturers not to use them.
• Conveniently placed recycling facilities so that they don’t have to go out of their way - places like schools and supermarkets were mentioned
• There were many requests for more inorganic collection days.

What information they require to help them with action

• They want to know about plastic types - why can’t 5 be recycled, what action is being taken with manufacturers to ensure they start using the recyclable types for packaging!
• A lot of people just want more general information on what can and can’t be recycled and how to separate out their rubbish
• Some request to know what is done with recycling once it is collected - reassurance that it is being reused
• Also would like the plastic type logo to be bigger and more prominent on plastic packaging
• How do people recycle plastic bags?

Comments of interest on action

• "I strongly would urge for legislation to make it compulsory for plastics to be recyclable. In other words they (the business manufacturers/producers etc...) are only allowed to use recyclable (1 or 2) plastics for packaging, bottles etc. I am currently throwing away an amazing amount of plastics that cannot be recycled, it's a waste."
• "why can we only recycle plastic types 1 and 2? Frequently I see other no's with the recycling sign on the plastic packaging eg 3,5,7,8, yet we are told that only 1 and 2 can go in the recycling bins."
• "Many products not identified/not all products taken by collection section as no end use is available"
• "It would be great is councils provided more receptacle choice with public rubbish bins, eg glass etc..."
• "I would like more frequent and local access for disposing of toxic materials, eg Paint, oil, chemicals, poison. (Northcote and North shore)"
• "Limit households to one bag a week and fine for exceeding this limit, thus encouraging recycling"
• "Rodney council has no kerbside rec. going to dump is expensive and glass recycling depot is hard to get to, surely Orewa could be better provided for"
• "Why aren't margarine and butter containers made from plastic 1& 2? Also have only been aware of the Hazmobile for the last year and feel it is something that needs more publicity."
• "Either councils need to start collecting other grades of plastic or producers need to be forced to use type 1 & 2. All food containers should have to have a recycle number on them"

3) Support companies that recycle their packaging and products

Survey action - Choosing products made from recyclable packaging - cardboard, paper, glass, cans and plastic types 1 and 2

EASY TO DO - 58.7%
NOT SO EASY - 33.5%
DIFFICULT - 5.4%
N/A or WOULDN’T DO IT - 2.4%

Reasons for Not So Easy/Difficulty of action

• Recycling symbols are not clear and easy to distinguish when out shopping
• Manufacturers provide a lack of options - the consumer is restricted by what there is available for them to choose from
• The quality and price of the item is still going to be primary in decision making
• Often shopping is a rushed activity with little time for comparing packaging between products

How some counter these problems (why it is easy/hints)

• Use bulk buying facilities and take their own containers

What they want done to improve ease of action

• Symbols (especially the triangular plastic type numbers) need to be clearer and bigger so that they can be easily looked at when shopping
• Supermarkets could clearly mark sections in the supermarket where environmentally friendly packaging is used, and promote recyclable packaging.
• Bring back glass milk bottles/paper bags.
• Pass strict laws so that manufacturers are not allowed to have plastic containers that are not recyclable
• More product options that are packaged in a recyclable way

What information they require to help them with action

• Education on the types of packaging that is recyclable
• Information on how to identify recyclable packaging

Comments of interest on action

• "Talk to produces on their products and packaging - consumers have little choice"
• "If you need a product sometimes you have little choice over packaging"
• "Manufacturers need more incentives/or penalties to use less superfluous packaging"
• "Not prepared to compromise quality for packaging"
• "The type of packaging used by producers is very exasperating, they need to be bought in on reducing rubbish"

4) Choose to buy products with less packaging - buy economy-size products, concentrates and refills

Survey related action: Buying economy-size products, concentrates and refills

EASY TO DO - 80.1%
NOT SO EASY - 15.5%
DIFFICULT - 2.8%
N/A or WOULDN’T DO IT - 1.6%

Survey related action: Choosing to buy products with less packaging

EASY TO DO - 56.1%
NOT SO EASY - 36.0%
DIFFICULT - 6.0%
N/A or WOULDN’T DO IT - 1.9%

Reasons for Not So Easy/Difficulty of action

• Bulk buying doesn’t always suit some households
  • Food may go stale before being consumed
  • Lack of storage for the larger sized products
  • Difficult to budget for bulk purchases on a fixed income
  • Smaller sized products are often the ones on special
  • Not available in the brands that they prefer
  • Harder to transport, especially if you don’t have a car
• These problems are more prevalent for smaller households, the elderly, and those on lower incomes.
• Many people mentioned that buying in bulk is often not cost effective, and economic decisions drive their purchasing.
• It is a source of frustration that refills are often more expensive than buying a fully packaged product, also less refills are available as some companies have withdrawn them and have told consumers that they were not economically viable.

How some counter these problems (why it is easy/hints)

• Use bulk bin shops and take their own containers
• Purchase in bulk the products that they can (i.e. ones that won’t deteriorate over time)

What they want done to improve ease of action

• Products that will help the environment, such as refills to be priced economically to provide incentive. They don’t want to have to pay more to be environmentally friendly.

What information they require to help them with action

• Information on products that will help make an environmental difference

Comments of interest on action

• "Have yet to find a product carrying 'Enviro Choice' logo, economy products are often more expensive than standard, as are refills and concentrates"
• "Refills sometimes more expensive why?"
• "Refills should be cheaper to provide incentive"
• "It is frustrating that refills for products are often more expensive"
• "Talk to produces on their products and packaging, consumers have little choice
• Have noticed many times that buying refills is more expensive than fully packaged products"
• "Find ways to reward industry for reducing packaging"
• "Refill packs are often more expensive - I buy for economy not for environment"
• "Manufacturers need laws to stop them making such wasteful packaging, it is often cheaper to buy bottles than refills"
• "Economy-size and refills are often cheaper in the long run so I do buy if I can"
• "I rang Palmolive about their refill packs and they said they proved to be not economically viable"

5) If you don’t need a plastic bag, don’t take it - take your own bag to the shops

Survey related action: Saying no to plastic bags - taking your own shopping bag(s)

EASY TO DO - 47.1%
NOT SO EASY - 38.5%
DIFFICULT - 12.2%
N/A or WOULDN’T DO IT - 2.2%

Reasons for Not So Easy/Difficulty of action

• The major reason is that they just forget to take bags, many mentioned the main hurdle is needing to form the habit of having the bags available.
• Shopping is not always planned.
• Some perceive that shop assistants are annoyed by them having their own bags and others have encountered assistants that will insist on them using shop bags to show proof of purchase.
• Volume of shopping is an obstacle, especially at the supermarket when shopping for a large family.
• Many respondents commented on their other uses of plastic bags, such as using for kitchen bin liners, freezing food, dog waste collection, putting out the recycling etc,due to these formed habits they are reluctant not to have a decent amount of shopping bags available for these purposes. Therefore not motivated to take own bag.
• Lack of alternatives to plastic bags were mentioned
• Some speaking from a retail perspective believe that encouraging the use of ‘own bags’ will increase sales losses and theft.

How some counter these problems (why it is easy/hints)

• Several commented on the signs that are up in the Warehouse challenging people to only take a bag if they need it - think this should be more wide spread.
• Many have their own bags that they use regularly and find once in the habit it is quite easy - some use large plastic bins for grocery shopping instead of bags to make the volume of goods easier to carry.

What they want done to improve ease of action

• Several commented that plastic bags should always be charged for.
• 40 people commented that supermarkets should bring back paper bags.
• Supermarkets should be encouraged to sell cloth bags and provide boxes. A store discount would be an incentive.
• Promote the use of strong paper bags in shops.
• Shop assistants need to be educated in encouraging people to use their own bags and especially in packing bags efficiently in supermarkets and not using excess bags.
• Supermarkets to have frames for packing ‘own bags’.
• Want to work together with the retail industry and be encouraged to use own bags in a convenient way.
• Help through education/advertising to profile ‘own bag’ use and make this action become a habit.

What information they require to help them with action

• Where to buy good ‘environmental’ shopping bags.
• Information on how and where to recycle plastic bags, many have been told this is not possible and they are not collected as part of kerb side recycling. However a lot of people commented that there are plastic bag collection facilities at supermarkets but this does not appear to be widespread

Comments of interest on action

• "Shops don't always give you a choice to say no to plastic bags"
• "Sturdy holdalls are not common place as practical shopping bags. I have one from Europe where I think they better promote use of own reusable bags."
• "I need the shopping bags for picking up my dog's doings and for use in the kitchen tidy"
• "I use ARC canvas bags for shopping - often get asked where I got bags from. I think many retailers would support selling these bags as it would reduce their carrier bag cost (bags only cost me $1 from Ellerslie flower show a few years ago)"
• "It would be good to have school fundraising making fabric shopping bags to sell instead of plastic bags, and would get schools and families behind the idea to raise funds."
• "Think the reality of taking your own bags food shopping would be difficult as you buy so much, but agree with concept for smaller items - eg clothes"
• "Introduce legislation to make supermarkets use brown paper bags, similar to USA. Promote recycling plastic bags at supermarkets - eg bring in 10 bags get a gift voucher."
• "Supermarkets should use paper bags, and shopping bags need to become more trendy - could be provided by stores for items over $100"
• "We collect dozens of plastic bags and in some cases the supermarket people say they can't reuse or recycle them, the supermarket bosses need to be approached by council as plastic bags are a huge problem"
• "I purchased a plastic container from Foodtown that fits in my trolley that I use for groceries thus saving on bags - other supermarkets need to be encouraged to do this."
• "If supermarkets supplied a cloth bag that was washable and had an environmental logo on it I would use, and a the supermarkets could have a frame that would fit the bags at their end to make them easy to pack"

6) Look for products with the ‘Environmental Choice’ label

Survey related action: Looking for and buying products with the ‘Environmental Choice’ logo

EASY TO DO - 46.5%
NOT SO EASY - 42.0%
DIFFICULT - 7.7%
N/A or WOULDN’T DO IT - 3.8%

Reasons for Not So Easy/Difficulty of action

• Main comment on this action is "What is it?" "What does it look like?" "Where do I find it?"
• Inability to locate in supermarkets.
• Lack of availability in many supermarkets and not very extensive range of products.
• Quite a few people commented that the ‘Environmental Choice’ label is often more expensive and they have to make their purchase primarily on cost.

How some counter these problems (why it is easy/hints)

• none

What they want done to improve ease of action

• There is big interest in this brand but low awareness of it. Education, marketing and promotion of it were frequently requested.
• As a brand people would like it to be easily recognisable, clear and as big as possible - a bit like the heart tick.
• They want the product ranges to increase
• They want the environmental choice to also be an economic one
• Areas of the supermarkets that just stock environmental choice items so they are easier to identify.

What information they require to help them with action

• Increased marketing and promotion of the logo

Comments of interest on action

• "Would choose more environmental products if more were available"
• "enviro products/bulk buying not always cost effective for small households"
• "Manufacturers are not providing enough environment friendly products"
• "Environmental products are often more expensive and not available at low cost supermarkets"
• "I have never noticed an 'Environmental Choice' label - are they prominent enough?"
• "Supermarkets need to get in on the act and promote and advertise 'Environmental Choice' products, that will help make a difference"

7) Compost your garden rubbish and kitchen scraps at home

EASY TO DO - 65.2%
NOT SO EASY - 17.5%
DIFFICULT - 15.6%
N/A or WOULDN’T DO IT - 1.7%

Reasons for Not So Easy/Difficult

• Lack of knowledge about how to establish a composting unit.
• Section size prevents composting, as there is nowhere to physically put the bin.
• Concern about attracting vermin/flies - unsanitary.
• Actual physical effort involved in maintaining and turning a compost - i.e. difficult for those who are older and disabled.
• Common perception is that it takes time and money and effort
• The cost of buying a compost bin
• Problem of germinating and spreading noxious weeds
• Concern about affecting neighbours with smell, pests etc...
• Interference of pets
• Concern about composting in garden where children play

How some counter these problems (why it is easy/hints)

• Use communal composting opportunities - i.e. take scraps to neighbours/family.
• Use an organic collection facility that takes away scraps and green waste to be recycled.
• Commented that well run composts with good heat cause few problems.

What they want to ease action

• Lots of people want free organic/green waste collection much the same as recycling collections are done
• Requests for a subsidised composting bin, and access to bins in different sizes to suit household type/size
• Kerbside kitchen scrap collection
• Access to bins for the disposal of noxious weeds.

What information they require

• Huge demand for information on establishing and maintaining an efficient, clean, and low maintenance composting system. Many willing to try if instructed.
• Some information about what to do with compost and stats that show the positive waste reduction composting brings, and also the advantages to the garden.
• Also several requests for info and guidelines on starting worm farms for kitchen scraps.

Comments of interest

• "Expensive to do when on pension or budget, free plastic compost bins would help"
• "Storage difficulty with composting in small garden"
• "Would like somewhere to take compostable waste locally, own garden to small, promote easy ways of composting"
• "Resent paying to take garden rubbish to transfer station and then to buy back as compost"
• "As solo parent funds are tight and disposable income is not high enough to pay for waste disposal -used free vouchers for vegetation collection when they were available, would support kerb side collection of organic waste, I lived in Australia where this was a free service and found it highly effective, councils then sold compost at discount rates."
• " Don’t think that there should be charges for the disposal of green waste which is then made into compost and sold as it should pay for itself."
• "Education in school about composting, recycling, worm farms"
• "TV campaign on mulching/composting would be good"
• "Need rates funded compost pick up, what about subsidised small compost bins made out of recyclable material"

8) Mulch your garden waste and use it on your lawn and garden

Survey related action: Mulching your garden waste and using it on your lawn and garden.

EASY TO DO - 43.0%
NOT SO EASY - 29.4%
DIFFICULT - 25.1%
N/A or WOULDN’T DO IT - 2.5%

Reasons for Not So Easy/Difficulty of action

• Major reason for difficulty of action commented upon by respondents was lack of access to a mulcher, at a low cost. Buying a mulcher is seen as a large expense that most would not be able to afford.
• Space would be needed for storing green waste prior to mulching, especially difficult if you have a smaller section
• Mulching requires special equipment, and technical knowledge
• Mulching can cause plant contamination if diseased garden waste is used (from own and neighbours mulch) that reseeds itself once spread
• They would end up with more mulch than they could use

How some counter these problems (why it is easy/hints)

• Some of those who saw mulching as too difficult in their situation use a garden bag company or green bin to collect garden waste, then buy back mulch and compost - eg. Living Earth
• Co ordinate with neighbours to use their mulcher or add their larger green waste in with neighbours
• Some use their lawn mower instead

What they want done to improve ease of action

• Incentive for providing garden waste to be mulched eg. Discount voucher to buy some mulch back to off set costs of sending it in.
• Access to local/communal mulching facilities (most happy to pay small fee)
• Free collection of green waste which is then taken away and mulched or recycled

What information they require to help them with action

• Information on what is good practice for mulching, eg how to separate and kill weeds.
• Technical information on how to mulch including safe operation of equipment

Comments of interest on action

• "If I had garden mulch my lawn would be an eyesore, a bin should be provided for me to drive to which is 5 minutes from my home"
• "With lots of trees that need pruning you need to follow Australia's idea of putting green waste on road way and then having a mulching truck come and recycle it, maybe twice a year would be good."
• "ARC could consider a mobile mulcher, and a mobile transfer station"
• "Could do with community mulching facilities"
• "Have mulcher access much the same way as the hazmobile"

9) If you can’t compost or mulch, separate your garden waste and take it to a transfer station

Survey related action: Separating your garden waste and taking it to a transfer station

EASY TO DO - 33.1%
NOT SO EASY - 29.3%
DIFFICULT - 32.8%
N/A or WOULDN’T DO IT - 4.8%

Reasons for Not So Easy/Difficulty of action

• Major problems stated in relation to this action were transport and cost. Not having access to a suitable vehicle or trailer causes the most difficulty. People also find the cost high. Groups that are especially affected by these factors are the elderly, disabled and those on a low income.
• Several mentioned that they don’t know the physical location of the transfer station, and many lack awareness of what the facility is actually there for.
• Busy lifestyles with little spare time were also mentioned, as a trip to a transfer station can take quite a while by the time you drive there and back.

How some counter these problems (why it is easy/hints)

• Many use garden bag collection for green waste - some share this service with others to reduce cost. Those who use it commented that it is an efficient solution to their transport problem

What they want done to improve ease of action

• A large majority of those who commented wanted free green waste collection, several times per year.
• Many wanted Transfer Stations that are more easily accessible and not so far from their homes
• Some suggested vouchers and discounts for those less able to pay the usage charges - eg, discount vouchers for Senior Citizens
• One free trip a year for rate payers to take garden waste to Transfer Stations

What information they require to help them with action

• Requests were made for more publicity about location of Transfer Stations

Comments of interest on action

• "What do I have to separate and what is a transfer station? And where are they?"
• "As a pensioner on a fixed budget I cannot afford to go to Transfer stations"
• "Councils do not take green waste and have to hire another bin, Sydney Australia, have excellent system where they provide a bin for organic/recycle and one for non organic."
• "Cars get dirty taking waste to transfer station, which make it difficult - need more details and promotion."
• "Time and transport difficult for use of transfer station - would be good if there was a collection for organic waste"
• "Provide mulcher at transfer station. The cost of garden waste disposal too high - neighbours chuck down bank because of this."
• "Hard to find, let alone pay for transfer stations"
• "Would like to see one free pass per month for rate payers to transfer station for garden waste drop off"
• "Resent paying to take garden rubbish to transfer station and then to buy back as compost"
• "Don’t think transfer stations should charge for organic waste drop of, but ok to charge for compost"
• "I am afraid of worms so can't compost, could take garden waste to transfer station if I knew where it was"
• "You can't catch a bus to the transfer station"

10) Done all you can at home? Why not become a "Rubbish Reduction Champion" at work

no survey results

Last updated: 5 July 2007