"Recycling is essential, but we need people to reduce first and then reuse what they can before recycling. We need to focus on prevention rather than cure"
Peter Martin, Deputy Chair of the Surrey Local Government Association
Kingston upon Thames, England: A new Surrey campaign promises to go a step further in tackling the county’s waste problem head on.
Issues around packaging, food waste, recycling and waste charging have all been in the national spotlight, but the new campaign should move things on to the next level.
“There are 3Rs in Surrey – reduce, reuse and recycle” will encourage residents and businesses to go beyond recycling to adopt all 3Rs.
In launching the campaign, Surrey has released findings from the biggest independent research project ever commissioned into UK consumers’ attitudes to reusing and reducing waste.
The research
Surrey County Council, on behalf of the Surrey Local Government Association (SLGA), commissioned a comprehensive independent research study into the state of waste in the county. The research was conducted by independent consultancy Tickbox in August 2007, and over 2000 Surrey residents were questioned on their habits with food waste, green waste and dry goods waste.
The study revealed that while people are willing to act with the environment in mind, the majority admitted they could actually do more.
Key results from the survey are:
- 70% of families believe that they only buy what they need, though current estimates are that more than a third of food bought is thrown away
- 51% don’t regularly choose products with less packaging
- 66% of Surrey residents say they could do more to reduce waste
- 89% households revealed a desire to reduce the amount they waste
- 88% said they would be willing to step up their reusing efforts
- 92% would be prepared to increase the amount of recycling they do.
The SLGA says that although the research found that the vast majority of Surrey residents are willing to take steps to reduce, reuse and recycle, certain groups such as those with younger children, young professionals and house-sharers appear to find it considerably more difficult to do so.
"We are – as a country, as a county, and as individuals – all guilty of throwing too much away. Recent news attention on packaging, food waste, the debate around incentive charging, and our own research findings shows just how important it is that we all work together to combat waste"
Matt Smyth, Waste Minimisation Manager at Surrey County Council
A major element of the “3Rs in Surrey” campaign will be to show residents how easy it can be to incorporate the reducing, reusing and, as a last resort, recycling.
Peter Martin, Deputy Chair of the Surrey Local Government Association and Surrey County Council Executive Member for the Environment, commented:
“It’s obvious that people want to do more to tackle the root cause of waste production. Lots of authorities are campaigning on recycling, but as far as we’re concerned in Surrey, that isn’t enough. Recycling is essential, but we need people to reduce first and then reuse what they can before recycling. We need to focus on prevention rather than cure.”
“Surrey is a great place to live. A recent survey by Channel 4’s ‘Location, Location, Location’ placed seven Surrey districts and boroughs in the top 20 places to live in the UK. But there is an environmental downside to Surrey’s enduring economic prosperity. The county’s residents generate more waste than most. With consumer spending only set to increase, the threat from increasing waste is obvious. We all need to act now.”
“There are 3Rs in Surrey” is aimed at tackling the issue of waste management by addressing the root cause through reducing the amount of waste generated.
Each resident in Surrey creates over half a tonne of waste which is equal to the weight of the average person every seven weeks.
The SLGA says, consumers need to reduce the amount of disposable goods they buy, and reuse whatever they can, whenever they can. Both consumers and local businesses will be targeted in an effort to stop waste increasing.
Matt Smyth, Waste Minimisation Manager at Surrey County Council, commented:
“We are – as a country, as a county, and as individuals – all guilty of throwing too much away. Recent news attention on packaging, food waste, the debate around incentive charging, and our own research findings shows just how important it is that we all work together to combat waste. Our green and pleasant land simply can’t sustain the levels of waste we currently produce.
“The 3Rs campaign aims to show people just how easy it is to make small, practical changes in our waste habits that will lead to great positive differences to our homes, environment and economy.”
Further information
The Surrey Local Government Association is made up of Surrey County Council and the district and borough councils of Elmbridge, Epsom & Ewell, Guildford, Mole Valley, Reigate & Banstead, Runnymede, Tandridge, Spelthorne, Surrey Heath, Waverley and Woking.
For more on the survey visit
http://www.surreywaste.info/communities/partnership/3rs .
For inormation on the SLGA visit
http://www.surreywaste.info/