Local Government NSW calls on residents to take part in recycling survey

The survey is part of Local Government NSW’s Save our Recycling campaign calling for a statewide approach to recycling which will allow us to collect, process and reuse recyclable material here in NSW.

Local Government NSW president Linda Scott said the survey was a pertinent opportunity for local residents to share their attitudes towards recycling and play an active role in combating the recycling crisis enveloping NSW.

“Until recently, our recycling system relied heavily on the export of recycling to countries that have invested in the facilities to reprocess it, such as China and Malaysia,” Cr Scott said.

“These countries are now winding back the amount of recycling they will accept which means we urgently need to come up with a new solution for waste management here in NSW.”

Survey participants will be asked a series of questions on their attitudes towards recycling, their individual recycling behaviours and their knowledge of NSW’s recycling system.

Lighthouse Beach residents Mark and Kerry Crawford’s commitment to recycling includes a three-bin system in their kitchen.

Port Macquarie-Hastings Council’s kitchen food waste bin is part of the system.

“We never put any food into the normal bin,” Mrs Crawford said.

She said they valued the environment and they recycled because it was the right thing to do.

Mrs Crawford believes society is becoming more educated about recycling and more people are speaking out.

Local Government NSW has also observed public support for recycling.

Cr Scott said all over the state, residents were doing their part to recycle, whether it be checking what went into their recycling bins, kick-starting a composting regime or being resourceful and reusing some household items.

“This survey will allow us to gain deeper insights into what motivates people to recycle and will enhance our calls on the state government to come up with a practical, long-term solution to waste management,” she said.

People can fill out the survey through the Save our Recycling website.

The survey asks behavioural and attitudinal questions as well as posing a series of questions on the NSW government’s waste levy.

The NSW government collected $727 million in 2017-18 from industry, businesses and local government through the waste levy, with $300 million of that paid by councils.

“Currently, only about 18 per cent of the $300 million paid by councils to the state government is reinvested into local recycling and waste management, with the rest disappearing into government coffers,” Cr Scott said.

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