Taylor High Rise Recycling Report ››

PRESS RELEASE
RECYCLING RESEARCH POINTS TO THE NEXT LEVEL
High-rise and multi-occupancy dwellings key to reaching local authority targets
Increasing recycling levels amongst residents of high-rise and multi-occupancy dwellings is not only possible but vital if local authorities are serious about achieving zero waste targets, according to new research commissioned by Taylor Intelligence.
The study, which was carried out by Professor James Baird of the Caledonian Environment Centre, gathered feedback from residents of 1,000 flats in North Lanarkshire following the introduction of ‘near entrance’ communal recycling and glass waste collection facilities serving 8,000 flats in high-rise and multi-occupancy dwellings in the area.
The results show that 68 per cent of the residents surveyed are now recycling 2-3 times per week. These residents are achieving an average recycling volume of 2.09kg[1] per household per week, a figure which outperforms the levels achieved by kerbside collections in many other local authority areas.

Specifically, 86 per cent of residents are recycling newspapers, 68 per cent plastic bottles and 40 per cent cans.

The additional recycling volume equates to 6 tonnes per week, increasing North Lanarkshire’s total volume by 0.3 per cent, a considerable increase in the context of a 30 per cent target, particularly from what has been deemed a ‘hard to reach’ group.
The levels are deemed even more impressive since they have been achieved from a ‘standing start’: the residents previously had no access to recycling facilities other than those at civic amenity sites or other bring sites. Furthermore, the buildings’ existing conventional bins and rubbish chutes are still available for use by residents should they choose them.
Dr David Gillett, Director of Taylor Intelligence, the research arm of recycling and waste containment specialists, Taylor, added:
“Much of the Homes & Communities Agency’s focus is on building high density, multi-occupancy dwellings in metropolitan areas, especially London. This will significantly increase the percentage of the UK’s population that currently live in high-rise or multi-occupancy accommodation from its current level of 20%. Thus it is essential that local authorities have recipes for successful recycling schemes to service these new properties. This Report aims to set a blueprint for such services that can be used at the masterplanning and local development framework planning stages.
“With London alone producing enough waste to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool every hour, planners and architects must therefore give serious consideration to building appropriate and use-friendly recycling infrastructure into their designs for multi-occupancy dwellings.
“This research demonstrates that the perceived challenges of doing so are by no means insurmountable and that the results can give a real boost to local authorities’ overall recycling volumes.”

-ends-
Notes to editors:

• The survey was carried out amongst 1,000 residents of high rise or multi-occupancy dwellings in the North Lanarkshire Council area. This sample was a subset of a total of 8,000 such residents in the local authority area with access to the nodeº® communal recycling and glass waste collection facility.
• The full report, entitled Taking Recycling to the Next Level is available to download from www.taylorbins.co.uk

Enquiries:

For further press information, images or interviews with Taylor, please contact:

Steve Ciuffini UK Sales Manager +44 01299 251 333 / steve.ciuffini@taylorbins.co.uk

[1] 1.88kg/hh/wk corrected to take into account 10 per cent vacant occupancy rate

---

---

---