Leeds University Union
Waste Research
A research project to establish student behaviour and attitudes
towards waste and recycling
Prepared by
Kal Sutcliffe
Leeds University Union
December 2009
© Leeds University Union 2009
PO Box 157, Leeds, LS1 1UH
Telephone: 0113 380 1396
Email: [email protected]
Leeds University Union
Waste Research – Contents
Executive Overview
3
Recommendations
5
1.0 Introduction
7
1.1 Background
7
1.2 Aims and objectives
7
1.3 Methodology
7
1.4 Qualification
8
1.5 Reporting
8
2.0 Survey Results
9
2.1 Demographic information
9
2.2 Respondents by postcode
10
2.3 Waste management
11
2.3.1 About your bin(s)
11
2.3.2 Storing your bin(s)
12
2.3.3 Problems with managing waste
13
2.3.4 The bin strike
13
2.4 Recycling
14
2.4.1 Accepted recyclable items
15
2.4.2 About your green bin
15
2.4.3 Barriers to recycling
16
2.4.4 How can recycling be improved?
17
2.5 Student comments
18
3.0 Conclusion
19
Appendix A – The Survey Questions and Results
20
Appendix B – Student comments on waste and recycling/
Open comments
Leeds University Union
25
Waste Research
December 2009
2
Executive Overview
This research project is structured to meet six main objectives. This overview examines
each objective in turn and will provide a brief summary of the findings.
The primary
research project consisted of quantitative results based on an online and paper-based self
completion survey.
Full details of the research project is available in the main body of this report.
Recommendations for future action are made in the next section of this document.
Students understanding of existing council waste services and messages
The research shows that students are not clear about many of Leeds City Council’s existing
waste services and messages, some of these include:
•
Bin collection days
•
Frequency of bin collection
•
Where to keep wheelie bins if there is no space on the property
•
Where the sorting sites are
Barriers to recycling and how to break these
The research shows that students do try and recycle, some more than others; however,
they face many barriers, some of these include:
•
Not having access to a green bin
•
Not knowing what they can and cannot recycle
•
Not having enough space to sort and recycle
•
Being unaware of when bins are collected
•
The ability to recycle other items, such as glass
•
Other people using their bins
Some of these barriers can be easily rectified such as providing a green bin or another
solution to recycle, and communicating when the bins are emptied and what can be put
in them.
Increase the number of students recycling in the future
Recycling is important to many students and they would recycle more if there were fewer
barriers to overcome. Recommendations have been made on how to improve recycling in
student areas.
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Waste Research
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Students’ expectations and requirements in dealing with waste
The research suggests that students require more information from the Council, especially
during the start of term and for those who have moved into new rented accommodation.
It also shows that student areas, especially houses that have a high occupancy rate,
require more from the Council in terms of larger bins for the number of people living in the
house and an increased frequency of collection.
Students can face problems within their household: some can be very particular about
recycling while other housemates are not. This does cause problems when it comes to
managing waste and recycling.
Improving council waste services to meet student needs
The research shows that students require more information from the Council in order to
improve their waste management. They also require better provisions for sorting their waste
and recycling according to the situation they live in; for example, larger bins, more
frequent bin collections and more recycling points.
Communicating with students on waste management and recycling
Students feel they don’t have enough information when it comes to waste management
and recycling. They would like to receive more information on recycling, bin collection
days and recycling messages to encourage them to recycle more; for example, recycling
is good for the environment and will save resources.
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Waste Research
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Recommendations:
Following the completion of this research Leeds University Union offers three main areas of
recommendations to consider for future actions. These are: improving waste management,
improving recycling, and communication.
It is suggested that these are considered
alongside other management and local information.
1. Improving waste management in student areas
Under this section there are four recommendations.
Firstly, it is recommended that Leeds City Council provide larger bins for those houses that
have five or more residents living in them. If this is not possible due to space restriction, it is
advised to offer an alternative solution; for example, a large communal bin at certain
points on the street or at the end of the street. Residents can use this communal bin if their
own wheelie bin is full.
There were 29% of students who stated they don’t have anywhere to store their bins. The
second recommendation is to offer a solution for this problem. This may involve removing
some of the household bins and replacing them with communal bins in designated spaces
on the street.
Thirdly, it is suggested to arrange for a black bin collection twice a week to avoid bins
overflowing: once at the start of the week and the other at the end of the week.
Finally, it is suggested to mark the bins with the house number and street name to minimise
the bins being taken elsewhere. If this is not possible it is advised to communicate with
residents and/or their landlords, to mark their own bin, providing full instructions on how to
do this.
2. Improve recycling in student areas
It is recommended that Leeds City Council makes recycling easier and more accessible for
students, this includes:
•
Providing green bins to all houses that have the capacity to store two bins. These
green bins should have full instructions on what can and cannot be recycled, when
the green bin is collected, where to recycle other items, and the other recycling
services the Council offer. This information should be provided annually due to the
short term tenancy of student lets.
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•
For those who do not have space for two bins the Council should provide
alternative and effective solutions such as sorting boxes, large communal recycling
containers/bins at certain points on the street or at the end of the street. Again,
providing the students with full information on how to recycle, where to recycle
other items and when the recycling is collected. The results show the current green
recycling bags are not an effective solution.
•
More local glass recycling. The research shows that students go through a lot of
glass items and are keen to recycle it. They are not sure why this service is not
offered within the normal recycling bins. This recommendation would involve
looking into ways glass could be recycled within the existing recycle bin/containers
and providing more bottle banks in highly populated student areas.
•
Collecting the green bins more frequently, changing from monthly to fortnightly
collections, would encourage students and others to recycle more.
3. Communication
The final recommendation is improving communication on managing waste and recycling.
The Council and the University should communicate annually with students and landlords,
at the start of the new term, about what day(s) their bins (both black and green) will be
collected and where they should leave their bins before and after collection. The
communication should also include what to do and who to contact if your household
doesn’t have a bin. Further communication should also be made at the end of the term
about how to get rid of unwanted items, in particular raising awareness and supporting the
Green Streets project run by Leeds University Union.
As for communicating recycling messages, it is recommended to clearly communicate
what can and cannot be recycled: this should also include pictures and examples of each
type of plastic as oppose to just ‘Type 1’. Furthermore, the communication should include
where to recycle other items, especially glass, and how to find out more about recycling.
To encourage students to recycle more, it is also suggested to communicate the
importance and benefits of recycling and what happens to the recycled items.
Finally, it is recommended to raise awareness of the recycle for Leeds website:
http://www.leeds.gov.uk/Community_and_living/Recycling_rubbish_and_waste.aspx
and
ensure the information on here is accessible, correct and up to date.
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1.0
Introduction
1.1
Background
Leeds City Council, the University of Leeds and Leeds University Union have been working
together to help improve household waste management and increase awareness and
levels of recycling in highly populated student areas in Leeds.
Market research was
undertaken to establish student behaviour and attitudes towards waste and recycling to
effectively tailor service provision and increase recycling.
1.2
Aims and Objectives
The main aims and objectives of the research were:
• To establish students’ understanding of existing council waste services and messages.
• To establish whether students face any barriers to recycling and how to make recycling
easier for them.
o
Issues they’ve had with the bin strike
• To establish how to increase the number of students recycling in the future.
• To investigate students’ expectations and requirements in dealing with waste.
• To establish how the Council’s waste services can be improved to meet student needs.
• To establish how to best communicate with students on waste management and
recycling.
1.3
Methodology
Quantitative methods were used to collect the information for this research via self completion surveys, which were made available online and in paper format.
The online survey link was available to complete on the homepage of Leeds University
Union’s website. An email was also sent to all University of Leeds students highlighting the
objectives of the research and the incentives on offer. Furthermore, computers were set up
in the Students’ Union foyer during community week (16th – 20th Nov 09) to provide a
greater opportunity for students to complete the survey.
In December 2009, a number of attempts were made to contact students at Leeds Met
University; however, due to unforeseen circumstances they have not had access to this
survey and we were unable to have their input in this piece of research.
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The paper-based survey was distributed to students in and outside of the Students’ Union
building during Community Week (week commencing 16th Nov 09). A stall was also set up
in the union foyer during this week, and was manned by union staff to promote the survey
and provide assistance for students completing the survey.
A pilot of the survey was conducted with a small student sample to eliminate any problems
with the interpretation of the questions and formatting. This allowed us to make a few vital
changes to the final survey.
1.4
Qualification
The survey obtained responses from a significant number of students, mainly from the
University of Leeds, and may be viewed as a fair representation of student opinion. Staff
who raised awareness of the survey provided feedback on students’ willingness to
complete these and found that students were co-operative and positive about the
research.
1.5
Reporting
This report is headed by an executive overview and recommendations for future action.
The remainder of the document has been structured chronologically as the findings at
each stage of the survey.
The tables and charts featured in the main body of this report have been extracted from
the results tables in Appendix A (on page 20) and, therefore, will not run in chronological
order. Appendix A shows a full breakdown of all the questions and the answers; these are
shown in chronological order to the format of the survey.
Please note that not all respondents answered all of the questions on the survey.
Percentages are given as a percentage of answers to a question rather than of the whole
population where appropriate. Responses given to open questions were analysed and
they are provided in full in Appendix B on page 25.
Leeds City Council, University of Leeds and Leeds University Union who are clients of the
project have been updated on progress and findings throughout the project. This has
been done through informal reporting.
In addition to supplying this final report, Leeds University Union’s Marketing department will
be presenting the findings of the research program to the above clients.
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2.0
Survey Results
A total of 1,772 surveys were completed: 99% were from students at the University of Leeds
and 1% from Leeds Met University and other Leeds Colleges.
The complete demographic background contains the following information: gender, age,
full or part-time study, study status, international or home student, and disabilities. (Please
see Appendix A on page 24 for a full demographic breakdown from the survey).
2.1
Demographic information
87% of those who completed the survey lived in private rented accommodation and 4%
are home owners; furthermore, these two groups also reside in the Leeds area and equate
to 1,614 of the respondents.
The other group of respondents were those living in university/private halls of residence (8%)
and those living with parents/guardians (1%) with a very small percentage (0.2%) living in
the LS postcode area.
Based on these results, the latter two groups will be filtered out during any detailed analysis,
to ensure the results are in keeping with those living in private rented accommodation and
in the LS postcode, especially the student areas of LS1 – LS7 (this will be highlighted with a
footnote reference next to each subtitle).
The age groups most represented were the under 21s (55%) and 21-24 (39%). In reflection
to the age groups, the most represented current years of study were those in year 2 (46%)
and year 3 (36%).
65% of the respondents were female and 35% were male. There is a higher ratio of females
to males compared with the University of Leeds student demographic statistics.
90% of the respondents were undergraduates and 10% postgraduates; furthermore, 98%
are studying full-time.
93% of respondents were UK students, 3% from other EU member
states and 4% from outside the EU.
The demographic results have identified that respondents in this survey are primarily:
•
Female, aged 18-24
•
Living in LS6 in private rented accommodation
•
UK undergraduate students in full-time education
Other groups are represented; however, the above information is only highlighting the
highest percentages of responses to the demographic questions.
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2.2
Respondents by Postcode 1
The majority of respondents (78%) were from the LS6 postcode area and there were a
smaller percentage from LS2 (6%) and LS4 (7%). The other postcodes mentioned were
Bradford, Huddersfield, LS16 (Far Headingley), Manchester, Wakefield, and York.
LS2, LS3, LS5 and LS6, had a higher house occupancy rate. For example, there are at least
five or more people living in them. The opposite shows for areas: LS1, LS7 and LS8, whereby
two is the average house occupancy.
1
Please Note: The following results contain analysis from those living in private rented
accommodation and those living in their own accommodation
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2.3
Waste Management
2
This section covers collection and storage of bins.
2.3.1
About your bin(s)
Overall, 83% of the respondents said they knew which bin(s) belonged to their household.
The graph below compares this with those not knowing when their bin is collected. It is
clear from this graph that students are not aware of when their bin is collected, especially
those living in LS1*, LS2 and LS8*.
* Please note there
was only a small
sample for LS1 and
LS8; therefore, the
results will not be
representative for
the number of
students living in
these areas.
The respondents were also asked how often their bins get emptied; 64% said their black bin
gets emptied once a week and 24 % didn’t know. There was more uncertainty with the
green bin.
The chart below shows the percentage breakdown of both black and green bins being
emptied.
2
Please Note: The following results for this section contain analysis from those living in private rented
accommodation and those living in their own accommodation
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2.3.2
Storing your bin(s)
The respondents mainly store their bins on the street (35%) or on their property (42%). A
small percentage (15%) have a bin yard to store their bins. There were 6% who selected the
‘other’ field; most of the responses were ‘back street’, ‘back or front yard’ and ‘I don’t
have a bin’.
After the bin has been emptied the students said they did the following:
•
20% leave it where it is and let their housemate move it back to their property/bin
yard
•
35% said they wheel it back to their property/bin yard as soon as possible
•
29% said there isn’t anywhere to put it as there is no garden or bin yard
16% selected ‘other’ and their comments include:
•
Bin is left in bin yard
•
Bin is left in street/ leave it where it is
•
Have no wheelie bin
•
Bin men put it back
•
Landlord/someone else moves it back
Some of those who leave their bins on the street also mentioned they had somewhere to
store the bin, but still leave them on the street. Here are two comments from the responses
received:
1. “Leave outside the gate. We have a yard but don't use it for bins as it is up steps.”
2. “There is room on the property but the bins are usually left in the back street.”
Less wheelie bins would be left on the streets if the bin men/women returned them to the
bin yards (38%); people are aware they shouldn’t be left on the streets (39%); we had
somewhere to store them (39%). Some also suggested issuing fines (19%).
A small percentage said they have no wheelie bin and requested one from the council,
but have not received one. The students’ comment: “We have asked the Council to send
us a bin but they haven't so we use any bin in the street.”
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2.3.3
Problems with managing waste
The table below gives a breakdown of the problems students have trying to get rid of their
household waste against where they live.
Postcode
Problems with getting rid of your household waste
(Disregarding the bin strike)
LS1
50% size of bin not sufficient; 20% bins not collected often enough
LS2
30% size of bin not sufficient; 27% bins not collected often enough
LS3
45% size of bin not sufficient; 31% bins not collected often enough
LS4
34% size of bin not sufficient; 35% bins not collected often enough
LS5
57% Other people use our bin
LS6
46% size of bin not sufficient; 41% other people use them
LS7
42% have no problems
LS8
33% other people use our bin
Other
43% have no problems
The results mainly show the areas with a higher student population had very similar and
common problems. These were: the current bins are not sufficient for the number of people
living in the house and the bins not being collected often enough.
The other main problem in the LS6 and LS8 areas was other people using the bins. Those
living in LS6 have more problems than any other area and this may be due to a higher
percentage of students living in this area (78% of the respondents live in the LS6 area).
LS7 and those living in other areas have little or no barriers of getting rid of their household
waste.
2.3.4
The bin strike
The ‘bin strike’ option was factored in to the survey as the time of conducting the research
overlapped with the bin strikes in Leeds. The largest problem recorded of getting rid of
household waste was the bin strike: 75% of the respondents selected this option.
28% of the respondents said the bin strike has changed the way they dispose of household
waste. Over two thirds of these responses were positive and included recycling more,
keeping rubbish inside, going to the tip, and making less rubbish/making it smaller.
The strike had a negative effect on a third of the respondents and their comments
included recycling less, stopped recycling, put the rubbish in normal black bins, put the
rubbish in other people’s bins.
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2.4
Recycling
Recycling is important to students with 79% saying it’s very important/ important to recycle
household waste, and a further 15% saying it’s slightly important.
Furthermore, the students were asked about their attitude towards recycling: 48% of the
respondents said they recycle even if it requires additional effort and 43% said they recycle
if it doesn’t require any additional effort. Only 6% were not bothered about recycling.
Currently, 92% of the respondents recycle, some more than others. The pie chart below
shows how this figure is broken down:
The students were then provided with statements and asked which one of them best
described how their household managed getting rid of waste. 13% said they sort all of their
waste and regularly visit council facilities to recycle additional items. A further 23% said
they recycle sometimes and 32% try and recycle but are limited to what they can do.
Those that selected the ‘other’ field mainly said they had no green bin or there wasn’t any
provision for them to recycle. The remainder of the respondents do not recycle; see the
chart below for a full breakdown.
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2.4.1
Accepted recyclable items
This section covers students’ knowledge of what can and can not be recycled.
Firstly, the students were asked about plastics and if they knew which plastics can be
recycled.
Currently, Leeds City Council recycles plastic types 1, 2 and 4, and not plastic types 3, 5, 6,
or 7. The table below shows students’ current perception: they are aware of recycling
plastic types 1 and 2, yet not overly confident on type 4. On the other hand, 45% of the
respondents were not sure about the types of plastic that can be recycled.
Secondly, they were asked what other items they could recycle using their green wheelie
bins. 62% said any paper, 61% said any cardboard and 53% said cans: these are the three
other items that can be recycled in these bins. However, the concern is those selecting
glass (13%), textiles (4%) and those not knowing (33%).
2.4.2
About your green bin
This report mentions earlier about the respondents’ uncertainty about when their green
bins are emptied and some not even having one. (See section 2.3.1 About your bin(s) on
page 11).
The respondents were asked if there was any recycling information on their green wheelie
bin. 41% of students were aware of their green wheelie bin having some information about
what they can and cannot recycle. This leaves 32% having no information and 27% not
knowing about having any information on their green bin. Please note there may be a
small percentage not having a green bin and students may have selected ‘don’t know’ or
‘no’ as an option for this.
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2.4.3
Barriers to recycling
There were many respondents who faced a barrier to recycling their household waste.
The graph below shows the overall barriers (blue line) students’ face when recycling
compared to the main barriers by postcode.
The three most common barriers overall and for certain postcode areas are:
1. Can’t get to a waste sorting site
2. Not enough recycling points
3. No storage/ bins inside the house for sorting
Those living in a different postcode area to the ones stated had little or no barriers to
recycling.
Barriers to recycling by postcode
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2.4.4
How can recycling be improved?
The respondents were given a selection of options to find out if they would recycle more if
changes were made. All options provided were selected, some more that others. The table
below gives a clear breakdown of their responses.
I would recycle more if…
I knew the Council
recycled all our waste
I knew what could be
recycled
% of respondents who
agreed with this
statement
43%
36%
Glass was collected
52%
I knew what plastics I
could recycle
It was collected more
frequently
We had more space to
sort and store waste
We had a way of getting
our recycling to a sorting
site
Other: The main
comments were ‘if we had
a green bin’.
31%
42%
What does this mean?
Communicate what can and
can’t be recycled more
effectively. Can the Council do
more to recycle other items?
Communicate where the sorting
sites are.
Glass can be recycled. Could
the Council start collecting
glass?
More clear communication
Increase the frequency of
collecting recycled waste
Some students said they had no
green wheelie bin or little
provisions to recycle their
household waste. More should
be done to ensure that
households have these
provisions, and if this is not
possible to have access to
recycling near their property and
communicate where these are.
51%
33%
11%
Students said the following would motivate them to recycle more:
•
Reduce amount of rubbish going to landfill (66%)
•
Saves space in my waste bin (43%)
•
Good for environment/ saves resources (82%)
•
It’s the right thing to do (57%)
•
Reduces pollution (54%)
•
Good for the economy (39%)
•
Good for future generation (59%)
•
Feel guilty if I don’t/ better if I do (43%)
•
Other (3%) – main comments were ‘having a green bin would help’
These options would be a great way to communicate recycling messages.
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2.5
Student comments
The following are some of the comments made by the respondents. A full list of comments
can be found in Appendix B – student comments on waste and recycling (page 27).
“Supply green bins to woodhouse residents that have a back lane/ bin yard space or who
request them. The current green bag system doesn't work and actually causes more litter
on the streets.”
Female, full-time undergraduate, aged 25-28, living in LS6 in own accommodation
“Glass recycling needs to be collected rather than relying on people to go to glass bins.
People get through lots of glass, especially in student areas with beer/wine/cider bottles!”
Male postgraduate, aged 21-24, living in private rented accommodation in LS12
“Give information to each household on how to recycle, what to recycle, and offer
collection of tetrapaks. Offer services for collection of glass or transport to areas so
households can easily recycle glass at bottle banks.”
Female full-time undergraduate, aged 21-24, living in private rented accommodation in
LS6
“I emailed the Council in summer about how to use the green bins (with regards to sorting,
dividing rubbish), but all I got back was an apology for the bin strike. If emails/flyers could
be sent out/flyers left in local shops then people could find out how properly to use
facilities, and where the closest public waste facilities are. I also had no idea that wheelie
bins aren't meant to be kept on the pavement, so perhaps that could be better
publicised.”
Female, aged under 21, living with six others in private rented accommodation, in LS6
“Have the right number/size of bin for number of people living in a house.
Reminders by post to households, about collection times/dates, etc, as every year
occupants change and information is not passed on.”
Male undergraduate, living with six others in private rented accommodation, in LS6
“Summarising the points:
Green bins should be available for all households, with instructions on them.
A composting campaign should be initiated.
Bin yards could help reduce rubbish spreading with winds etc.
More general recycling sites around Leeds should be installed, especially in student
areas where a lot of glass waste is expected. Must find a way to indicate to people
where these sites are.
General campaigns on the importance of recycling should be more common.”
Male postgraduate EU student, living with one other in private rented accommodation, in
LS6
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3.0
Conclusion
In summary, the results of this research show that students do face barriers when it comes
to managing their household waste, especially when there are five or more students living
in one house, and the waste output is higher than the average household. Other barriers
mentioned were being unaware of council waste services; for example, bin collection
days, frequency of bin collection and uncertainty of where to store their bin.
The research also shows that recycling is important to students and they would recycle
more if the facilities available were effective and met their needs. They face many barriers
when it comes to recycling including: not have a recycling bin; not having the space
within their house to sort the waste; not knowing what they can and cannot recycle, not
having access to household waste sites; and their recycle bins not being collected often
enough.
Larger bins, more frequent collections, better amenities in student areas and better
communication of council waste services are recommended to increase the number of
students recycling and improving how they manage their household waste.
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Appendix A – The Survey Questions and Results
Q1. Which university do you study at?
University of Leeds
Leeds Metropolitan University
Leeds City College/other Leeds college
I'm not a student
Percentage
99%
0%
0%
1%
Frequency
1599
6
2
7
Q2. What type of accommodation do you currently live in?
University or private halls of residence
Private rented accommodation
Own accommodation
Living with parents or guardian
Percentage
Frequency
Q3. How many people live in your household, including
you?
1 - just me
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
0%
96%
4%
0%
Percentage
0
1546
68
0
Frequency
2%
9%
9%
20%
21%
19%
9%
11%
32
151
147
316
345
313
137
173
Q4. What is your post code?
LS1
LS2
LS3
LS4
LS5
LS6
LS7
LS8
LS9
LS10
LS11
LS12
LS13
Other (please specify)
Percentage
1%
6%
3%
7%
0%
78%
1%
0%
0%
0%
0%
1%
0%
3%
10
92
49
114
7
1258
12
6
4
5
6
8
3
40
Q5. Do you know which bins are for your household?
Yes
No
Percentage
83%
17%
Frequency
1270
259
Q6. Where do you currently store your bins?
Bin yard
Space on property for bin
Bin on street as no space available
Don't know
Other provisions (please specify)
Percentage
15%
42%
35%
1%
6%
Frequency
242
682
565
21
97
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Frequency
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Q7. What day is your black bin collection?
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
I don’t know
Q8. Do you
know how often
your bin usually
gets emptied?
Black Bin
Green Bin
Daily
1%
0%
Weekly
64%
14%
Fortnightly
11%
28%
Percentage
15%
12%
11%
10%
5%
4%
0%
44%
Monthly
1%
8%
Q9. After your bin has been emptied, do you...
Every
three
months
0%
0%
We
don't
have
one
1%
14%
Percentage
Frequency
236
185
171
158
80
65
5
707
Don't
know
24%
36%
Frequency
1598
1416
Frequency
Leave it where it is and let your housemate move it back to
your property/bin yard
Wheel it back to your property/bin yard as soon as possible
20%
35%
327
555
There isn’t anywhere to put it as we don’t have a garden
or bin yard
Other
29%
17%
459
266
Percentage
75%
Frequency
1202
42%
26%
13%
15%
5%
14%
37%
36%
7%
679
419
214
236
81
225
599
577
117
Q11. Has the bin strike changed the way you dispose of
your household waste?
Yes
No
Percentage
28%
72%
Frequency
446
1161
Q12. How important is it to recycle your household waste?
Very important
Important
Slightly important
Not important
Not bothered about recycling
Percentage
41%
38%
15%
3%
3%
Frequency
636
602
241
48
39
Q10. Do you have any problems with getting rid of your
household waste?
Bin Strike
The size of the bin is not sufficient for the number of people
in our house
Weak black bin bags
I don’t know how to dispose of bulky items
Our bin yard is full of rubbish
We don’t have a black wheelie bin
There’s nowhere to store our bin off the street
Other people use them
Our bins are not collected often enough
No
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Waste Research
December 2009
21
Q13. Which of the following best describes your attitude
towards recycling?
I do not recycle
I recycle if it does not require any additional effort
I recycle even if it requires additional effort
Don’t know
Q14. Which of the following statements best describes how
much you currently recycle?
Answer Options
I never recycle
I recycle sometimes
I recycle a lot but not everything that can be recycled
I recycle everything that can be recycled
Percentage
Frequency
6%
43%
48%
2%
8%
35%
37%
19%
Frequency
126
555
581
304
Q15. Does your green bin have any information on what
you can and cannot recycle?
Yes
No
Don't know
Percentage
41%
32%
27%
Frequency
647
497
422
Q16. Are there any barriers to recycling? (Please tick all
that apply)
We don’t have a green wheelie bin.
I don’t know what items can be recycled
I don’t know where to recycle glass
I have no means of getting to a waste sorting site
Other people use our green bins for normal rubbish
Not enough recycling points
No storage/bins inside the house for sorting
I don’t know when the green bin is emptied
No
Percentage
28%
24%
27%
37%
27%
31%
36%
28%
8%
Frequency
431
372
419
577
425
486
566
441
128
Q17. Which statement best describes how your household
gets rid of its waste? (Pick one only)
We recycle our waste sometimes
Percentage
23%
Frequency
361
32%
8%
8%
495
126
124
7%
109
13%
10%
199
152
We recycle our waste but limited space restricts how much
we can recycle
We don’t sort and recycle our waste as it’s too confusing
It’s too much effort to sort our waste and recycle
We use both bins for non-recycling items as we do not
have enough bin space.
We sort all of our waste and regularly visit council facilities
to recycle additional items such as glass
Other (please specify)
Leeds University Union
Waste Research
Percentage
93
679
757
37
December 2009
22
Q18. Do you know what types of plastic items can be
recycled in your green bin/bag collections? (Tick those
that apply)
Percentage
Frequency
Type 1 (PET/PETE): E.g. Clear & often colourless plastic
bottles, such as drink bottles.
53%
835
Type 2 (HDPE/PE-HD): E.g. Opaque plastic bottles, such as
cleaning products and milk containers.
47%
734
Type 3 (PVC/V): E.g. Hard wearing plastics, such as piping
and the insulation on wires.
5%
82
Type 4 (LDPE/PE-LD): E.g. Stretchy plastic film, such as
carrier bags, frozen food containers.
25%
385
Type 5 (PP): E.g. Yoghurt containers, condiment bottles,
bottle caps, margarine tubs, crisp and biscuit packets.
30%
476
Type 6 (PS): polystyrene: such as disposable cups,
disposable plates and cutlery.
Type 7 (other plastics): DVDs, iPod and phone cases.
All of these
I don’t know
16%
3%
3%
45%
250
44
49
702
Q19. Do you know what other items can be recycled in
your green bin/bag collections? (Tick those that apply)
Any Paper
Any Cardboard
Glass
Metal Cans including drink and food cans
Tetrapaks (juice cartons)
Textiles (clothes, shoes, belts, bags etc)
All of these
I don’t know
Percentage
62%
62%
13%
53%
24%
4%
3%
32%
Frequency
973
963
203
833
381
66
45
507
Q20. I would recycle more if... (tick all that apply)
I knew the Council recycled all of our waste
Glass was collected
I knew what I could recycle
I knew what plastics I could recycle
It was collected more frequently
We had more space to sort and store waste
We had a way of getting our recycling to a sorting site
Other (please specify)
Percentage
42%
52%
36%
31%
42%
51%
33%
11%
Frequency
649
801
554
474
642
782
502
169
Q21. Which of the following, if any, would motivate you to
recycle more? (Please tick all that apply)
Reduces amount of rubbish going to landfill
Saves space in my waste bin / in my home
Good for the environment/ saves resources
It’s the right thing to do
Reduces pollution
Good for the economy
Good for future generation / children
Feel guilty if don’t / better if I do
Don’t know
Percentage
66%
53%
82%
56%
54%
39%
59%
43%
3%
Frequency
1013
653
1258
865
825
604
908
654
44
Leeds University Union
Waste Research
December 2009
23
Q22. Less wheelie bins would be left on my street if... (tick
all that apply)
The bin men/women returned the bins to garden/bin yards
People knew they shouldn’t leave them on the pavement
We had somewhere to store them
Issue fines to residents who left their bin on the pavement
My street doesn't have this problem
I live in flats so we don't have wheelie bins
We have a communal bin
Other (please specify)
Percentage
38%
39%
39%
20%
17%
5%
6%
3%
Q23. If you have any comments or suggestions about how
the Council could make managing your waste better and
recycling more easier, please write these below:
Please see Appendix B on
page 27 for all the comments
for this question
Frequency
589
596
597
299
266
74
95
51
Demographics:
Q24. Your age?
Under 21
21-24
25-28
29-35
36
Percentage
55%
38%
4%
2%
1%
Frequency
844
587
64
25
10
Q25. Your gender?
Male
Female
Percentage
35%
65%
Frequency
541
989
Q26. Current year of study?
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4 (or more)
Graduated
Percentage
Frequency
3%
46%
36%
14%
2%
45
702
551
206
26
Q27. Are you...
Undergraduate
Taught Postgraduate
Research Postgraduate
Graduate
Percentage
91%
5%
4%
0%
Frequency
1387
71
67
5
Q28. Do you study...
Full time
Part time
N/A
Percentage
98%
2%
0%
Frequency
1497
25
8
Q29. Where are you from?
UK
EU
Non EU
Percentage
93%
3%
4%
Frequency
1425
47
58
Q30. Do you consider yourself to be disabled?
Yes
No
Percentage
Frequency
Leeds University Union
Waste Research
2%
98%
34
1496
December 2009
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Appendix B – Student comments on waste and recycling/ open comments
Q6. Where do you currently store your bins?
Other comments include:
• Back street / back alley
• End of the road
• We don’t have a wheelie bin
• Bin is left on street and there is space available on property
Q9. After your bin has been emptied, do you...
Other comments include:
• The bin men put it back
• Leave it where it is / stays on the street
• Communal bins don’t get moved
• No wheelie bin, just use black bin bags
• Neighbours put it back
10. Do you have any problems with getting rid of your household waste?
Other comments include:
• Bins frequently moved / go missing
• Bins not enough for the number of people living in the house
• No lid on bin
• Can only recycle a small amount
• Bins not collected frequently enough
• Green bins rarely collected
• Can’t recycle glass
• No recycling facilities near where we live
• Confusion on what I can and can’t recycle
• No recycling facilities / no green bin
• Not sure which bins belong to our house
• Other people use our bins
• Housemates are very lazy
• Not sure when the bins are collected and how frequently
• Streets are full of rubbish
• Green bags for recycling are rarely if ever provided and even less likely to be
collected so we have to take our recycling ourselves
• Green bins get polluted with non recyclables
• We produce far more recyclable waste than normal waste but our green bin is
emptied less frequently. Waste we could recycle ends up in the black bin.
• We want to recycle things but we STILL haven't got a green bin despite asking for
one at the start of term
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Waste Research
December 2009
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16. Are there any barriers to recycling?
Other comments include:
• No bottle bank close to the house / can’t recycle glass
• Not all plastics can be recycled
• Don’t know exactly what can be recycled
• Green bin never emptied
• Green bin is not big enough
• Green wheelie bins have been removed because road was too difficult for council
vehicle to access
• Housemates don’t care enough / I don’t care
• I heard from the unions environmental rep that the Council put all bins onto landfill,
so don’t bother recycling (I normally would)
• Lack of information
• Main problem is no bins inside the house for sorting / We don't have enough room
• No car to go to the recycling centres
• No green bin
17. Which statement best describes how your household gets rid of its waste?
Other comments include:
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Don’t recycle as no green bin / don’t have an option to recycle
All our waste goes into the green bins as we don't have black bins
Have two separate bins & separate all waste but don't go to council facilities
I collect all the recycling and then I carry it all to the Union recycling points as there
is nowhere else to recycle it
I recycle as much as I can but other members in the household are not so bothered
It’s too much effort and we don’t have a green bin
No green bin / we don’t have a recycling bin
My flat recycles everything appropriately but passersby and other people in the
building use the wrong bins so it goes to waste
We recycle glass and would recycle other things if i had/knew which one was
supposed to be a recycling bin
I don’t believe in recycling because it isn’t real recycling- melting down and
reusing/reforming old plastic uses similar amount of energy
Our house is too small to set recycling items aside- we simply don't have the space,
unless we want our kitchen and living room filled with rubbish
Would like to recycle but do not have green bin with no car cannot get to
recycling points
We recycle our waste efficiently, however we do not take glass to the recycling
bins
We try but it's not collected
20. I would recycle more if...
Other comments include:
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I had a green bin
A way of sorting the recycling in the house
All plastics had the number on so I knew which I could recycle
Better Collection Information
I knew that others wouldn’t put their waste in the green bin outside my house
if my housemates were equally motivated about it
If the bin man actually provided us with the recycling bags they are supposed to
provide
If the Council collected recycling waste as in other parts of Leeds
The Council recycles more material
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December 2009
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23. If you have any comments or suggestions about how the Council could make
managing your waste better and recycling more easier, please write these below:
All comments made have been noted here:
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A black and green bin needs to be allocated to each house and stored correctly.
This is chaotic where we live and sometimes a house doesn't have either bin.
A box for glass would be a great idea.
Actually having recycling bins and a collection for them would be helpful!
No effort has been made to clear up the masses and masses of rubbish that had
overflowed from the bins all around my area (ls6). We are still, almost a month on,
still walking around in a sea of plastic and rubbish. Maybe just one road sweeper
thing for one day and the place wouldn’t look like a complete cesspit!!
Am not sure which bin even belongs to us
You need to provide either more storage areas for bins, we have 2 entrances to our
house and have no idea where we are meant to leave the bins, we leave them
where we found them when we moved in, which I made sure is not the right place.
So many more people would recycle if there was a clear indication of what to
recycle and bins provided to put INSIDE the house
Bin bags, green and black should be provided for residents at a minimal fee...this
would incentivise the residents to use bin bags...they would be high quality so they
wouldn't break and instructions for disposal could be printed on to them
As with a number of other councils, a certain incentive is required for people's
increased use of recycling, including indications of the benefits, and perhaps fines
for those who show a blatant disregard for attempts to improve the situation. Leeds
is looking for a new landfill site, but this needn't be the case!
Make sure the bins are ALWAYS collected on the day they should be. In my
previous house (also in LS6) sometimes 3 weeks went past without the black bins
being collected.
At our house last year even if our bin was right near our gate bin men would not
empty it unless actually on the street. This has lead us to leave the bin constantly on
the pavement as housemates and I kept forgetting to put the bin out leading to
numerous bin bags building up in our back yard. By leaving it on the pavement this
ensures the wheelie bin is always emptied and we do not accumulate rubbish in
our garden/drive. I understand there are issues with bin men emptying bin/taking
black bin bags that aren't on the street as they may not actually be rubbish but
surely if the bin is right next to the gate bin men could empty them.
Be clearer about what can and can’t be recycled. Have more things like bottle
banks (but for stuff like plastics and cans etc) so that people who have had their
green bins displaced (and thus the ability to recycle the easy way removed) can
still recycle.
Better education.
Bigger Green recycling bins for the street and if they were big bins separated for
glass, paper etc.
Bins on the streets is really inconvenient, causes mess, causes people to throw their
rubbish in as they are passing by, is smellier. Landlords should be required to make
provisions for bins. Perhaps fines should be implemented but not to those who are in
rented accommodation that hasn’t had provisions made for their bins.
Clear concise information regarding different types of plastics and whether soiled
cardboard (such as use pizza boxes) can be recycled
CLEAR MESSAGES IN LOCAL AND REGIONAL PAPERS OF THE CODES MENTIONED
FOR RECYLCING AND GOOD PRACTICES SENT OUT TO ALL THOSE WHO LIVE IN LEEDS
AND THE AREA.
Clear signs and information on what can be recycled as although I have a good
idea of what can be but i am aware that what is recycled varies depending on the
Council. More emphasis and promotion should go towards recycling on both parts
so that more is collected.
Clearer information on waste that is borderline e.g. tetrapaks.
Collect glass when collecting other recycling; collect recycling more; provide
compartments in bins for different items
Leeds University Union
Waste Research
December 2009
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Collect glass. collect bin even if you haven't put it on street so long as it is visible
from the road
Collect glass. Leeds City Council is very poor in comparison to other places for
recycling. Info should be more visible in packaging on what is recyclable.
Collect the green bins much more regularly or introduce more recycling points into
communities
Communal bins at the ends of streets would be very useful as this would allow for
faster collection and a guaranteed place for residents to place their rubbish
without taking up pavement since not everyone has the ability to take their own
waste away.
Composting bins please!
Could make the bin yard a cleaner place, so that there is not rubbish all over the
floor which discourages people from keeping it neat. Could also provide bins for
inside the house, making recycling easier and then have recycling boxes in the bin
yard as well. People don't just use their own bin now, so put some big bins there so
people can just use whichever they want to but so they do not overflow
Deliver our bins! Fine people who put normal waste in recycling bins and don't
recycle; detailed instructions of how and when to recycle
Do more to recycle plastic as it is one of the biggest problems
Does the Council actually recycle the green bins??
"Due to the amount of drink students consume, a glass recycling point on every
street would be a godsend. 15 min walk to our local glass recycling point. We
currently have over 50kg of beer bottles stacked up in crates in our kitchen waiting
to be taken down but no1 can be bothered to trek down.
More information on what plastics can be recycled and what condition food
cartons must be in: like the rings off plastic bottles must be taken off and jars must
be washed off etc. a leaflet or a large poster would be good, i know it would go up
in our kitchen."
Enforce use of green bins, landlords have sealed ours
Enough bins for every house on the street
Fines are a terrible idea that will just make people hostile
Fining those who leave their bins on the street is an effective idea but note that
many bins on streets are mixed up and the bin marked as belonging to number 4
(for example) has not necessarily been used by or left on the pavement by the
people living at number 4. It would be far too easy for the fines to be given to the
wrong people.
Free bin maintenance - replacing lid on our recycling bin
Provide recycling boxes for glass/metal and for paper/card; provide recycling bins
for food waste and for recyclable plastics - North Lincs council already do this so it
should be relatively easy for Leeds City council to do the same.
Give an emphasis on recycling. But this MUST be supported with a quality recycling
service. If not, people will recycle for a short amount of time, realise it’s not being
collected, or they don't have enough green wheelie bin space and then stop. Also,
needs to be made clearer exactly what should go in green wheelie bins.
Give everyone recycling boxes - one for paper and one for plastic and glass
Give everyone a green bin and tell them when it is collected. Make it very clear
what should and shouldn't be recycled
Give green bins to Woodhouse residents (Hartley Crescent area). Collect compost;
give information to each household on how to recycle, what to recycle, and offer
collection of tetrapaks. Offer services for collection of glass or transport to areas so
households can easily recycle glass at bottle banks.
Give out free sorting bins to keep inside so recycling could be sorted easier. Make
recycling compulsory. Give out leaflets through the door on what can be recycled
and what can't.
Give responsible people a bin or explain why not when they request one several
times!
Glass recycling facilities! Also, if they actually delivered a bin to us that would be
nice...
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Waste Research
December 2009
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Glass recycling needs to be collected, rather than relying on people to go to glass
bins. People get through lots of glass, especially in student areas with beer/wine/
cider bottles!
Glass should be collected, the green bins should be collected more frequently, and
there should be more information about exactly what can and can't be recycled,
especially plastics, and where to find recycling centres for the items that aren't
collected.
Glass waste is a huge problem since those without a car can’t really manage to
take it to the recycling points (which are not really frequent anyway).
Green bins should be given as standard and food waste should be separated as
there is a lot of 'waste' that could be recycled
"Have one or 2 larger bins per street (the large red ones) and a few more recycling
points nearby”
Have separate bins/boxes for different items, such as a box for plastics and a
different box for glass. It would be easier to separate the items and give me more
confidence that they were actually going to be recycled.
"Have the right number/size of bin for number of people living in a house. Reminders
by post to households, about collection times/dates, etc as every year occupants
change and information is not passed on."
Houses with a large number (6+) of residents could have more bins so they don't
overflow.
Before the strike I thought that Council managed the waste efficiently and
effectively, however I believe by putting a big green recycle bin on all the streets
will mean people recycle more and this will decrease the amount of waste in the
general waste bins
I can't believe that Woodhouse does not have recycling bins. It is ludicrous to me
that in this day and age an area would not be provided with such.
I emailed the Council in summer about how to use the green bins (with regards to
sorting, dividing rubbish), but all I got back was an apology for the bin strike. If
emails/flyers could be sent out/flyers left in local shops then people could find out
how properly to use facilities, and where the closest public waste facilities are. I also
had no idea that wheelie bins aren't meant to be kept on the pavement, so
perhaps that could be better publicised.
"I had to find out on my own what exactly we could and could not recycle.
Through your website which was not the easiest site to navigate. My flatmates and I
have heard a rumour that green bins in student areas are taken to landfill sites
anyway. If this is true I could stop washing the food out of the food containers and
save myself the bother. If you fined houses for not recycling properly and give them
full details about what they should recycle and how then there would be no
excuse."
I have a recycling bin at home and it is mandatory to recycle in the household. But
there is no push to recycle in Leeds because of the lack of help (i.e. bins provided.)
Possibly more recycling bins on the street could also help. Recycling bins in
University help students to do this without even noticing.
I live on Buckingham Mount in Hyde Park. The bins are all stored at the end of the
road as there is no space.
I requested a new green bin over a month ago but have not received it. Without a
car i have no way of recycling at the moment
I saw bin workers empty green and black bins into the same cart. I wrote to the
Council but this happened again. I know most people in our area don't recycle but
it makes our efforts seem pointless.
I think if the process was more straightforward, for example it being clear what can
and cannot be recycled, students would be more inclined to recycle.
I think more streets should have recycling bins.
I think people don´t realise or don´t care that they have a responsibility to keep the
streets tidy because there is so much litter, food and even furniture thrown on the
floor around student areas. Maybe there should be some sort of fine for not taking
care of your street because otherwise I doubt people would change their habits.
Leeds University Union
Waste Research
December 2009
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We need more than 2 bins between 16+ people. We need our bin yard cleared we've been asking since July, and I sure as hell am not about to pay for a skip
myself to clear up everybody else's garbage. Pick up the recycling once in a while.
Give incentives to recycle in the first place (in enough languages for the residents
to get it into their heads) so that the green bins don't end up used as black bins.
Extra sorting bins would be great, if there was room in my house. I've been living in a
rat den for the last 6 months, so I feel I've earned the right for a little ranting. I hope
this reaches somebody who can do something about it.
I think more people would feel encouraged to recycle if the whole recycling system
became more sophisticated - it seems very strange to just dump all items for
recycling together in the green bins, how do I know they are actually being
recycled? I have no idea whether there is a point to me cleaning all items for
recycling when they will just be dumped together with other households' incorrectly
disposed waste. More sorting sites, that are actually visible so that people can't miss
them, around the city would be a great help. There is no excuse for the lack of glass
sorting sites. All over our street people dispose of glass in their normal waste
containers, and I'm sure this does not only apply to my area.
I think they should ensure that all houses have green bins that are collected as I
don't think that any houses have them in our street.
I think adverts clearly stating which plastics can be recycled would help. not just
signs on bins, people don't read them and have already filled bins
I wish that we could recycle more, if we had a green bin for our property. I do try to
recycle in the bins outside Headingly Taps pub, but these bins only take glass and
papers, no tins, cans, card or plastic.
I would like to be provided with a recycling bin as at the moment it’s a bit of a trek
walking to the Union with all the recycling. I think the Council could also promote
recycling more and provide more recycling points for those who don’t have
wheelie bins.
I would very much like to know where my recycling ends up. Although I do recycle,
I am quite cynical that it is dealt with properly. I would like to be proved wrong!
If all households were issued with facilities to recycle then it would be a lot easier. I
live on a street where there is no reason that we shouldn't have green wheelie bins
or some way to recycle yet we don't have these facilities available.
If some form of system could be used, the system would enable the user to use a
phone app to track their bin. Each bin would have a unique code; this code would
also be merged with your phone app. So the user can track which waste dump it
goes, what matter was within the bin. The app could also have an internet account
so the user can track it on the internet.
If the Council made it easier to recycle via more recyclable items, door collection,
more recycling sites, clearer instructions on what can be recycled at which places,
possibly neighbourhood recycling allowances, etc.
If the Council provided us with green bins and collected the rubbish on time and
the right day
If there was some form of recycling collection - often find myself sorting waste
without thinking, then realising we only have one bin.
If we were assigned boxes/bags to sort our recycling
"In Derby, recycling is very easy. There are 3 bins: Black bin for general waste, Blue
bin for glass, metal, plastic and juice cartons and Brown Bins for garden waste.
There are also blue bags for paper. The Council deliver leaflets every year
explaining what you can put in your bins and there is a timetable for when they will
be collected."
In house sorting bins would make it much easier and we would be much more likely
to do it properly if we knew what can go into each bin.
In Newcastle we have a small caddy that fits inside the recycling bin for glass and
batteries, I think this would be useful, especially for those of us who don't live near to
a bottle bank or have a car.
Increase frequency of recycling collection.
It would be far easier if we actually had a green bin and if it got collected regularly.
I really had no idea about how the rubbish system works.
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Waste Research
December 2009
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Information issued to students in the letter sent to each household to collect vote
registry information, an easier facility to collect glass (the amount drunk by
students!) food recycling for composting; Bristol has a fantastic food waste system,
surely food waste could be composted for local farmers? But then I guess this would
cost our council more money......
Issuing fines on my street for those who don't move bins would not work - there is no
where to put them. I live in an upstairs flat with no garden or area to store bins. My
front door is at the back of the house and so they can't even be put by the door... it
is not a practical way of sorting the problem... maybe only on busy streets where
access is necessary. My road is a small street in burley which is used for access so it
is no problem
It is ridiculous that we cannot use the back street for our bins. If we could use, the
front street would be a nicer and cleaner, more hygienic place to live. There is
rubbish littering the streets and it blows into our garden because the entire bins line
the front street.
It might help if they collected the rubbish once or twice a week so that we weren't
rat infested. I am living in a SLUM. I hate litter i think it's an absolute disgrace that
they don't care about Hyde Park or the people who live there. If they cared they
would clean the whole area up.
It seems a little unfair that there are such differences between different areas in
terms of what waste is taken. E.g. some places have brown, green and black bins.
We only have a black bin, yet are required to pay the same amount of council tax.
There are too few local recycling facilities for e.g. textiles, metal, plastic, as the
Council seems to assume that these are collected from home, although in our case
they aren't. Furthermore, it always seems very short sighted to fail to put plastic bag
or box recycling facilities next to bottle banks, as people often end up leaving
these lying around or throw them in a bin.
It seems that everyone keeps their wheel bins on streets around LS6/ Hyde Park
area, however still people seems to struggle to bin their rubbish while walking on
streets in this area. The condition of streets is awful and the Council seems to do
nothing about it. Streets are full of broken glass and take away food left behind by
students walking back home at late night.
It would be good if we knew how our flat bins were actually collected, as then we
would know who to ask for a green bin. Glass would be good also, as often forget
to take to HPC when going anyway, and going on a separate journey often seems
like an effort.
It’s so hard to know when the bin men are coming, there is only a really small wall
and no gate between the street and the bins, and yet the bin doesn’t get emptied
if it’s not on the street. I think if there were separate plastic, paper and can
recycling points more people would recycle as they’d be more confident. Maybe
a few different coloured communal wheelie bins down each street?
Just collect the rubbish more often. More green bins- we're one of the only on the
whole street (Victoria Rd) to encourage people to recycle and let them know what
they can recycle- we had to find out from ringing the Council and searching online.
Label the bins so that neighbours don't steal them.
Larger wheelie bins, more frequent collections
Loads of bins on our street no idea whose bin belongs to who!! maybe each needs
to be numbered
Make it clearer to students what they can recycle and that only recyclable items
should go in the green bins. Send an email via the uni to students telling them what
they can recycle and how to do it.
Make it illegal not to recycle
Make it very obvious to what days the rubbish gets taken on!
Make recycling compulsory - as we have not been provided with a bin or
encouraged to do so, we just don't bother but if we had it, i know we would take
the time to do so.
Make sure people know when their bins are meant to be collected as it isn't always
obvious.
Making sure blocks of flats have recycling facilities and fining residents who don’t
move their bins off the pavement
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Waste Research
December 2009
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"More bin space would prevent weak bin bags being put directly onto the street
and splitting. Letting students know where the nearest recycling plant is - where we
can get rid and sort out of our recyclable waste"
More collections and collecting a wider variety of recyclables
More collections or advertising what is recyclable
More green bins provided, glass recycling bins/points to be introduced, also green
waste bins provided - maybe a few per street instead on one per household.
More green wheelie bins that were collected regularly
More information about where and what our recycling went too. This would
increase incentive to recycle.
More information e.g. letter to your address
More information on what to recycle and when it will be collected
More information on when green bins are collected and more than one green bin
would be helpful.
"More of the bigger black bins for larger households. Separate box sized bins for
paper, plastic, cans to be kept inside!"
More provisions made for people to recycle - provide more green wheelie bins and
green bags - collect rubbish and recycling more frequently
More recycling facilities.
More recycling points/bins in Headingley, even if they are communal/shared by the
road or street
More recycling sites which are easily accessible in built up residential areas
More regular leaflet drops for what to recycle, the collection days, where the
recycling facilities are to take them yourself. I'd also like to know what happens to
the recycling. I'm quite an environmentally conscious person, so perhaps for those
less inclined to recycle perhaps some information should be provided on why it’s
important that they do.
More space for recycling-fining other neighbours for dumping items in bins which
don't belong to them. posters showing what can and cannot be recycled
More transparency: Demonstrate they are recycling - widespread perception that
a lot of green bin waste goes straight into Landfill. Give talks/recycling events.
Educate more about recycling (e.g. dumping contaminated loads). Be more proactive in cracking down on littering. Employ more street sweepers, better
community incentives to keep streets clean
My street (Winfield Terrace) and the surrounding area don’t appear to have either
green bins or people who empty them. I would very much appreciate it if this was
changed.
Need more information on what can be recycled and where to recycle it.
Need to be collected more often and more informed
"Not all wheelie bins in our street are numbered and they never get returned to the
bin yard (are just left randomly in street), so we just put our rubbish in any available
bin. More info on which plastics can and can't be recycled. More info on what do
with large items e.g. mattresses, appliances etc. Glass collection."
Not taking glass is a massive burden. It would mean all drinks bottles and cans
could just go in one bin, the way it is, I throw out lots of cans that could be recycled
because my housemates are stupid and put glass in the box too, and I can’t be
assed to sort it for them!
"Students need fining for poor waste management. I make an effort but still have to
live with appalling streets. The Council should clean the streets in Hyde Park more they are disgusting - use the fine money to fund this."
Originally our black bin was collected every week, now this has been reduced to
every fortnight. This could be more acceptable if our recycling was also taken
fortnightly instead of monthly which is not enough. I would like reassurances from
the Council that what I recycle is actually being recycled and not just stored
somewhere or sent to other countries.
Our street is crowded with rubbish on the floor so it's seeming pointless as our bins
get thrown on the floor by strangers
People should take pride in their streets whether they are a permanent resident or
non-permanent (student). People should have an obligation to make sure outside
of their home are clean and clear of rubbish. More recycling for glass!!
Leeds University Union
Waste Research
December 2009
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Our recycling bins were not being collected regularly last year (i.e. before the
strike). When we contacted them they tried to help by giving us green bin bags to
tide us over until the next collection. However this was a recurring problem and their
final solution was to write to us and tell us that it is not possible to recycle from our
street (because it is narrow and the road is poorly maintained) so they removed our
green bins. Therefore we use the green bins on the street behind (but we're unsure
who they belong to, we think our green bins may have been moved to the back of
the house, but this was not clear).
Please can we have a bin? LS4 2NH
Please clean up the disgusting mess that has been left in Hyde Park. Although our
bins are being collected, the mess still hasn’t been cleared. It would motivate
people to be cleaner if the environment was cleaner
Please make it clearer what can and cannot be recycled
Please make policy clear to new and old residents and on website, especially when
it changes. Green bins would be great.
Organising regular (and HIGH-PROFILE) street cleaning would also hopefully
discourage people from just throwing takeaway boxes etc into the street: you take
more care not to stain your clothes when they're fresh out the wash, don't you?
Please provide more recycling bins and educate those that have them as to the
importance of using the correct bins.
Please send someone round to collect recycling, I hate seeing it going in with the
normal rubbish - we have more weekly recycling than we do landfill rubbish!
Have had problems before with collections from green bins, we do try and recycle
so when our recycling isn't collected because of other people in our area it's really
frustrating.
Please stop assuming that recycling per se is good. The extra hassle and cost
incurred by the constituents does not match to the benefit. Furthermore, some
transparency in your dealing with recyclables would be greatly appreciated, as
with many other boroughs it has been shown that the separated waste is merely
put back together when being processed.
Provide bigger bins, especially in student area... Hyde Park & Headingley and also
make glass recyclable
Provide boxes inside the house for recycling of different materials - we often don't
bother because we only have the green wheelie bin and that's right at the other
end of the street!
Provide households with compartments for certain materials that can be recycled
Provide information to households detailing what processes actually occur after the
recycling is collected (i.e. how it is sorted and what it is used for) and how this is
more beneficial than sending to landfill, which would encourage more people to
recycle (many people think it is pointless).
Provide large recycling bins for communal flats rather than just large landfill waste
bins and the odd wheelie recycle bin
Provide more black bins (my household doesn't have one) and provide recycling
bins (nobody has them on my street)
Provide more information on what can and cannot be recycled.
Put more policies in place so that it is compulsory to recycle more and not leave
bins on the street. Whether that's putting fines onto already poor students I'm not so
sure.
Recycling is very important but I'm more worried about the dirtiness in the streets at
the moment. It's a health and safety matter!! Leeds's streets are too dirty!!
"Make recycling easier?'
Provide clear guidelines in a leaflet for residence or info on your website. Separate
storage boxes so that separation of recycling can be done from inside the home.
Such as Newcastle and London councils."
Send out clear instructions on what can be recycled
Separate collection of biodegradable waste needed. Leeds University collects
biodegradable waste separately on campus.
Should organise an awareness campaign for recycling
Significantly increasing awareness via posters, flyers and stickers on Bins
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Since i moved into my flat i haven’t seen a bin belong to my flat (2 years now).
Moreover people are not informed about recycling. At work, uni, we have bins
provided for each type of rubbish, at home people are not bother. We don't
attract to recycle when organic stuff decay at home for example. Then it is easier
to put everything into one skip. Bigger things like cupboard are placed into
recycling green bins, because takes too much space in black bins.
"Somehow stopping people taking other peoples bins; telling us exactly what we
can recycle"
Stop people stealing bins. There are 6 people in our house and we still don't have a
bin despite asking the Council 4 months ago.
Students should be encouraged to recycle more and there should be facilities
maybe at the union for collecting recycling and taking it to recycling points - I don't
have a car so we have to leave everything in the shed until the end of term when
we can take everything to a recycling point. Also it should be more widely
publicised where the recycling points are, and our house should have a green bin.
"Summarising the points:
o Green bins should be available for all households, with instructions on them.
o A composting campaign should be initiated.
o Bin yards could help reduce rubbish spreading with winds etc.
o More general recycling sites around Leeds should be installed, especially in
student areas where a lot of glass waste is expected. Must find a way to
indicate to people where these sites are.
o General campaigns on the importance of recycling should be more
common."
Supply clear information of what can be recycled and boxes/bins to sort out
recycling. Also, it would be extremely useful if glass would be recycled, especially in
a student area where many students drink a lot of alcohol which comes in glass
bottles. It is such a waste.
Supply different bins to my block of flats/complex in our communal bin area and
educate residents on using them e.g. what can/cannot be recycles
Supply green bins to woodhouse residents that have a back lane/ bin yard space
or who request them. The current green bag system doesn't work and actually
causes more litter on the streets
Supplying green bins to students but i understand they currently struggle to get any
rubbish in bins at times let alone in a special bin!
The bins are never collected on the same day and sometimes we don't know when
the bins are coming so we sometimes do not get to get out rubbish collected.
The Council should provide bins, just as they do wheelie bins, for the kitchens of
houses in their area which have clear instructions for what can be recycled.
Also, the streets need to be cleaned, during the 6 weeks that our street did not get
cleaned, there were high winds and we now have rubbish all down the street
The problem of bins along our road is really annoying, it was the same last year on
Chesnutt Avenue, and now I live on Regents Park Terrace. You cannot walk along
the pavement because bins and all the way along it. Last year there were clear
green recycle bins, but this year they are all black ones. This means that I don't
recycle regularly, but I would if it was more obvious where to recycle and if i knew it
was definitely going to be recycled. Also, I don’t want to win the prize of somebody
cleaning our house, I like cleaning it myself! Thank you, I hope this is helpful!
The recycling bins should be emptied weekly, instead of fortnightly. Also more clear
guidance of what can be recycled would be helpful.
It would help having more dustbins and recycling bins. We moved into our house in
September and couldn't figure out which bin was ours because the numbers have
rubbed off. Also someone set fire to our recycling bins so we can't use that
anymore either
The streets are really litter filled; this should be cleared up so it looks tidier and smells
less and won't attract rats!
The streets need to be cleaned badly in this area. Bin men returning bins to yards
would help this, possibly fines for those left on the street, and more regular cleaning
of streets would also help.
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Waste Research
December 2009
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The streets in Hyde Park are disgusting. We walk on the road to avoid rubbish as the
pavements and try to not to fall into the gutter as it’s so full of rubbish. On Brudenell
Street i walked past the same old takeaway box with food coming out of it every
day for 3 weeks until the rain washed the food away. As far as i can tell the streets
haven't been cleaned at all since the strike.
MY GREEN BIN HAS NOT BEEN EMPTIED FOR THREE MONTHS AND LITTER FILLS THE
STREETS OF LEEDS.
They shouldn’t say they will come and issue us with new bins if they won’t for four
months; they weren't very nice on the phone either.
Too many bins, too many different days for collection, so too much confusion as to
how to proceed! However, I do appreciate that sorting of the rubbish has to be
done at some stage! No easy answer!
"Until recently I always thought that the recycling facilities in my area were fine.
Obviously with the bin strikes it has been difficult for the Council to cope with sort
out rubbish AND recycling, but I hope the situation will return to normal soon.
My biggest worry concerning waste removal is that the build up of waste has led to
a rat infestation in our back street. I see a rat several times a week now. This is
probably a bit of a health concern.
We are students and so we are therefore eating individually rather than as a
household like a family would - this inevitably increases the amount of wastage and
thus the fortnightly collections is not sufficient. If anything there should be two
collections a week for student areas such as Burley, Headingley, Hyde Park and
Woodhouse as the waste on the streets is ruining the look of Leeds - surely we are
above the middle ages.
We don't have a bin - someone stole ours
We have no green recycling bins. If we did, we would recycle much more.
We have only just got black wheelie bins in the street, no recycling at all. Would be
happy to recycle if the facilities were provided.
We live in private flats and have communal bins. As I have said, there is no facility
offered to collect any recycling we have. I think this is very poor and recycling is
very important/ normal for me at my permanent home, and I recycled on a regular
basis when I lived in university halls last year.
We need clearer instructions on what we can recycle, how we can, and when it
gets collected
We only have a black bin at my house so we have to sort out recycling and take it
to a recycling centre in the car, but our housemate with a car is moving out, so we
won't be able to recycle next year. At my parents house we have a green bin for
garden waste, a blue bag for newspapers etc and recycling boxes for cardboard
glass and tin, all of which are collected fortnightly. It would be useful to be
provided with these so we could recycle without having to take it to a centre.
Improving the amount of recycling options available to residents, and increasing
education on what can and can’t be recycled and why people should recycle,
would make a good long-term initiative.
"Were students live, the bins fill rapidly as waist from 4/5 meals cooked separately
will always go into the bins every day, compared to one meal cooked in a family
household. Bins should be emptied more frequently, of two bins per house hold…
maybe even a skip for a few houses in a bin park?"
What can we recycle? Why not glass? Wheelie bins and staff that do their jobs
properly would be a start.
When bins have been on the street for more than a few weeks the Council should
remove them as a hazard - fed up of not being able to walk down the streets due
to wheelie bins + cars parked on footpaths.
Why can't we recycle tetrapaks and all types of plastics?
Why exactly can't we leave wheelie bins on the street? That makes no sense;
there's just nowhere to store our bins. The idea of fining people who do it is just
ludicrous.
Wider use of the green bin program. As of now I have to deposit recyclables in
someone else's green bin down the street would be much more inclined to recycle
if awareness was raised on how to do it.
Leeds University Union
Waste Research
December 2009
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