household recycling study · pdf filehousehold recycling study c o n t e n t s ... survey ....

Household Recycling Study

JAN 2013

HOUSEHOLD RECYCLING STUDY

C O N T E N T S

INTRODUCTION 3

1.1 Background 3

1.2 Study Objectives 4

1.3 Report Structure 4

PHASE 1 : SURVEY 5

2.1 Design and Methodology 5

2.2 Demographic Profile of Survey Respondents 5

2.3 Key Findings: Recycling Practices 7

2.4 Key Findings: Motivations 10

2.5 Key Findings: Awareness/ Knowledge 14

2.6 Key Findings: Barriers 17

2.7 Key Findings: Public Feedback 18

2.8 Summary of Key Findings 20

PHASE 2 : FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSIONS 21

3.1 Design and Methodology 21

3.2 Key Findings: Recycling Behaviour 22

--- Personal Reasons 22

--- Social / Cultural 22

--- Infrastructural 23

3.3 Key Findings: Views on Current / Possible Future 24

Recycling Efforts

3.4 Summary of Key Findings 26

CONCLUSION 27


1.1. Background

INTRODUCTION

http://app2.nea.gov.sg/topics_wastestats.aspx


1.2. Study Objectives

1.3. Report Structure


2.1. Design and Methodology

2.2. Demographic Profile of Survey Respondents

Table 2.2.1. Demographic profile

FREQUENCY (n) PERCENT (%)

Male 1182 47.3

Female 1318 52.7

FREQUENCY PERCENT

Singapore Citizens 2099 84.0

Permanent Residents 401 16.0

FREQUENCY PERCENT

Chinese 1811 72.4

Malay 280 11.2

Indian 297 11.9

Others 112 4.5

FREQUENCY PERCENT

Single 757 30.3

Married, with children 1510 60.4

Married, without children 156 6.2

Separated/Divorced/Widowed 74 3.0

Refused 3 0.1

PHASE 1 : SURVEY


FREQUENCY PERCENT

15-19 years 225 9.0

20-24 years 183 7.3

25-29 years 159 6.4

30-34 years 225 9.0

35-39 years 272 10.9

40-44 years 299 12.0

45-49 years 232 9.3

50-54 years 221 8.8

55-59 years 188 7.5

60-64 years 187 7.5

65 years and above 309 12.4

FREQUENCY PERCENT

Primary & Below 481 19.2

Secondary School ('O' levels/'N' levels) 736 29.4

ITE 109 4.4

A Levels, Diploma 496 19.8

Degree 473 18.9

Post-graduate 202 8.1

Others 3 0.1

FREQUENCY PERCENT

White Collar 1204 48.2

Blue Collar 198 7.9

Not working/Unemployed 123 4.9

Student 251 10.0

Retirees 326 13.0

Housewife/Homemaker 388 15.5

Refused 10 0.4

FREQUENCY PERCENT

HDB 1- or 2-Rm Flat 130 5.2

HDB 3-Rm Flat 467 18.7

HDB 4-Rm Flat 774 31.0

HDB 5-Rm or Executive Flat 537 21.5

Condominium or Private Flat 440 17.6

Landed Property 145 5.8

Others 7 0.3


2.3. Key Findings: Recycling Practices Recycling Participation Rate

Table 2.3.1. Recycling participation rate

FREQUENCY PERCENT

Newspaper 2181 87.2

Old Clothing* 1674 67.0

Magazines 1597 63.9

Plastic bags* 1532 61.3

Plastic Drink Bottles 1388 55.5

Junk Mail/Brochures 1159 46.4

Plastic Containers 1141 45.6

Aluminium Drinks Can 1117 44.7

Cardboard 1096 43.8

Glass Containers 945 37.8

Tin Cans 924 37.0

Beer/wine Bottles 815 32.6

Plastic Cartons 813 32.5

Small Electronic Appliances 776 31.0

Tetra-pak 408 16.3

Others, please specify 27 1.1

None of the above 125 5.0


Table 2.3.2. Proportion of items recycled by item type (%)

A little (less than

20%)

Some (20% to

less than 40%)

A Fair Amount (40% to

less than 60%)

Most (60% to

less than 80%)

Almost All (80% to

less than 100%)

All (100%)

PAPER ITEMS

Newspaper 8.4 8.3 10.2 12.9 16.4 43.9

Magazines 7.8 8.0 10.1 12.5 15.7 45.9

Junk Mail/Brochures 7.1 6.5 9.1 14.0 14.8 48.6

Cardboard 8.0 6.8 9.7 14.2 15.6 45.8

GLASS

Beer/wine Bottles 8.8 8.6 8.7 17.1 14.2 42.6

Glass Containers 9.7 9.5 9.6 14.9 14.5 41.7

METALS

Aluminium Drinks Can 11.4 10.9 9.2 16.4 13.2 38.9

Tin Cans 10.4 8.7 10.1 17.7 12.7 40.5

PLASTICS

Drink Bottles 10.0 11.3 11.7 15.6 14.5 36.9

Containers 8.5 8.9 11.5 15.5 14.8 40.8

Cartons 9.0 7.3 8.0 15.2 16.1 44.5

Bags 5.0 7.8 7.8 12.3 15.5 51.6

OTHERS

Tetra-pak 7.9 9.6 11.3 9.6 14.7 46.9

Old Clothing 11.0 13.6 13.0 10.7 9.8 41.9

Small Electronic Appliances

14.1 10.9 11.1 11.0 11.5 41.5

Recycling Method – Paper Items

Table 2.3.3. Top 5 recycling methods for paper items

FREQUENCY PERCENT*

Karung Guni Recycling Collection 965 43.2

Recycling Bins 666 29.8

Door-to-Door Collection of Recycling Bags 616 27.6

Reuse 204 9.1

Give to others to reuse 186 8.3

*respondents could choose multiple responses


Recycling Method – Non-Paper Items

Table 2.3.4. Top 5 recycling methods for non-paper items

FREQUENCY PERCENT*

Reuse 991 44.5

Recycling Bins 908 40.7

Give to others to reuse 777 34.9

Door-to-Door Collection of Recycling Bags 631 28.3

Karang Guni Recycling Collection 594 26.7


Pre-Recycling Steps

Table 2.3.5. Actions carried out prior to recycling - Wash/Clean

FREQUENCY PERCENT* PERCENT

Wash/Clean - Glass 695 35.5 58.3% will

wash/clean Wash/Clean - Metals 608 31.0

Wash/Clean - Plastics 908 46.3

Wash/Clean - None of above 818 41.7 41.7



2.4. Key Findings: Motivations Reasons for Recycling Paper Items

Table 2.4.1. Top 5 reasons for recycling paper items

FREQUENCY PERCENT*

Recycling helps save the environment 1544 69.2

Recycling is the morally right thing to do 701 31.4

It will benefit others 409 18.3

It is convenient to recycle 393 17.6

Recycling helps to save money/ incentives 267 12.0


Reasons for Recycling Plastic/Metal/Glass

Table 2.4.2. Top 5 reasons for recycling Plastic/Metal/Glass

FREQUENCY PERCENT*

Recycling helps save the environment 1392 69.1

Recycling is the morally right thing to do 602 29.9

It will benefit others 438 21.7

Can be reused 239 11.9

Recycling helps to save money/ incentives 237 11.8


Reasons for Not Recycling Paper Items


Table 2.4.3. Top 5 reasons for not recycling paper items

FREQUENCY PERCENT*

None/Too few/ Too small an item to recycle 1050 65.2

Will re-use it instead 226 14.0

Inconvenient to bring the recyclables to the bin 167 10.4

Inconvenient in having to sort out/clean the recyclables 134 8.3

Don't know of/ No recycling facilities in the proximity 108 6.7


Reasons for Not Recycling Plastic/Metal/Glass

Table 2.4.4. Top 5 Reasons for not recycling Plastic/Metal/Glass

FREQUENCY PERCENT*

No/Too few/ Too small an item to recycle 1230 59.6

Will re-use it instead 404 19.6

Not aware that it could be recycled 231 11.2

Inconvenient to bring the recyclables to the bin 219 10.6

Don't know of/ No recycling facilities in the proximity 175 8.5


Recycling Behaviour Compared to One Year Ago

Figure 2.4.1. Recycling behaviour compared to one year ago

25.4%

68.5%

6.2%

Recycling behaviour compared to one year ago

Recycling more

Same

Recycling less


Reasons People Start to Recycle

Table 2.4.5. Top 5 reasons why people start to recycle

FREQUENCY PERCENT*

I want to do my part to save the environment 1525 64.2

I believe it is the right thing to do 916 38.6

It is more convenient than throwing my rubbish away 291 12.3

Recycling earns/saves me money 195 8.2

There is a recycling bin nearby/ recycle bag provided 151 6.4


Influencers of Household Recycling Behaviour

Figure 2.4.6. Did anyone influence you to recycle? (Top 5)

FREQUENCY PERCENT*

No one 1850 74.0

School/Teacher/Mentor/Coach 182 7.3

Mother/ Mother-in-law 159 6.4

Father/ Father-in-law 102 4.1

Spouse 82 3.3



Encouraging Others to Recycle

Figure 2.4.2. Would you encourage others to start recycling

Table 2.4.7. Who would you encourage to recycle?

PERCENT*

Family members 77.9

Friend 66.6

Neighbour 17.9

Employer 2.8

Colleague 12.3

Teacher/Mentor/Coach 1.1

Religious leader 1.1

Classmate/ Schoolmate 3.5

Others 0.3

Tenant 0.1

Anyone/ Everyone 1.4

Relatives 0.7

Domestic Helper/ Maid 0.5

Senior Citizens/ Young children 0.5

Student 0.3


78.2%

21.8%

Would you encourage others to start recycling?

Yes

No


2.5. Key Findings: Awareness/Knowledge Top-of-Mind Awareness

Figure 2.5.1. First thing associated with “Recycling” (Top 5 responses)

Co-mingled Recycling

Figure 2.5.2. Awareness of co-mingled recycling (%)

44.2%

26.0%

8.9%

6.2%

4.1%

10.60%

First thing associated with "Recycling" (Top 5 responses)

The different types of recyclables (e.g. Paper, Glass, Metals, Plastics)

Helps preserve the environment

Recyclables re-made into other useful items

Bringing recyclables to the recycling bin or collection point

Karung Guni

Others

60.8%

39.2%

Awareness of co-mingled recycling (%)

Yes

No


Knowledge of Nearest Recycling Bin

Table 2.5.1. Knowledge of nearest recycling bin (%)

FREQUENCY PERCENT

Yes 1620 64.8

No 880 35.2

Total 2500 100.0

Convenience of Nearest Recycling Bin

Table 2.5.2. “The recycling bin is conveniently located to my home”

FREQUENCY PERCENT

Strongly Disagree 35 2.2

Disagree 95 5.9

Somewhat Disagree 61 3.8

Neutral 91 5.6

Somewhat Agree 206 12.7

Agree 882 54.4

Strongly Agree 250 15.4

Total 1620 100.0

Not aware 880

Table 2.5.3. Mean score

THE RECYCLING BIN IS CONVENIENTLY LOCATED TO MY HOME

Mean score 5.46 out of 7

Knowledge of Which Items Can Be Recycled


Table 2.5.4. Knowledge of which items can be recycled

FREQUENCY PERCENT

Newspaper 2476 99.0

Magazines 2361 94.4

Plastic Drink Bottles 2332 93.3

Old Clothing 2304 92.2

Aluminium Drinks Can 2295 91.8

Cardboard 2241 89.6

Plastic Containers 2231 89.2

Junk Mail/Brochures 2232 89.3

Plastic bags 2206 88.2

Tin Cans 2188 87.5

Glass Containers 2184 87.4

Beer/wine Bottles 2141 85.6

Plastic Cartons 2076 83.0

Small Electronic Appliances 1801 72.0

Tetra-pak 1695 67.8

Others, please specify 28 1.1

None of the above 9 0.4

Respondents’ Perception of their Level of Recycling Knowledge

Table 2.5.5. Mean score (1 strongly disagree – 7 strongly agree)

STATEMENTS MEAN

I know where to bring my household waste for recycling. 5.31

I know which item(s) can be recycled. 5.74

I believe I recycle more than most people. 4.15

I believe my household recycles more than most Singapore households. 4.12

The mean scores for the statements “I know where to bring my household waste for recycling” and “I know which item(s) can be recycled” were 5.31 and 5.74 respectively. On average, respondents agreed that they knew how to recycle and knew what items could be recycled.

The mean scores for the statements “I believe I recycle more than most people” and “I believe my household recycles more than most Singapore households” were 4.15 and 4.12 respectively. On average, respondents were neutral on whether they recycled more than most other people.


2.6. Key Findings: Barriers

Household Norms

Table 2.6.1. Household norms (1 strongly disagree – 7 strongly agree)

STATEMENTS MEAN

My family does not believe in recycling 2.35

No one in my home recycles 2.31

Habits

Table 2.6.2. Personal habits (1 strongly disagree – 7 strongly agree)

STATEMENTS MEAN

I will still recycle no matter how busy I am 5.13

I will recycle more often if the recycling bin is nearer to my home 5.73

I do not recycle due to hygiene reasons 2.77

The mean scores for the statements “my family does not believe in recycling” and “no one in my home recycles” were 2.35 and 2.31 respectively. The findings suggested that respondentsʼ households believed in recycling and had at least one member who recycled.

The survey results suggested that on average respondents somewhat agreed that they would recycle even if they were busy (mean score 5.13), and agreed that they would recycle more often if the recycling bins were located closer to their homes (mean score 5.73). Respondents on average also disagreed that hygiene reasons were a barrier to them recycling (mean score 2.77).


2.7. Key Findings: Public feedback Information on Recycling

Figure 2.7.1. Would you want to know more about recycling?

Table 2.7.1. Information respondents would like to know more about with regard to recycling

(Top 5 responses)

FREQUENCY PERCENT*

What are the correct steps to recycle 618 43.8

Where is the nearest recycling bin from my house 586 41.5

General Recycling Campaigns/ Actions taken by the Government 583 41.3

How does recycling affect the environment/ benefits of recycling 499 35.3

What item(s) could be recycled 472 33.4


56.5%

43.5%

Would you want to know more about recycling?

Yes

No


Suggestions on Encouraging Household Recycling

Table 2.7.2. Suggestions for Government initiatives to encourage household recycling (Top 5 responses)

FREQUENCY PERCENT*

More media coverage 1191 47.7

Place more recycling bins around my house/ Give more recycling bags/ Have more recycling points

1072 42.9

Teach people how to recycle & the value of recycling 581 23.3

Provide incentives 494 19.8

Have more recycling campaigns/initiatives to promote environmental values

462 18.5



2.8. Summary of Key Findings

Findings suggested that households supported recycling and had at least one member who recycled.


3.1. Design and Methodology

PHASE 2 : FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSIONS


3.2. Key Findings: Recycling Behaviour

Personal Reasons

Value of Recycling

Force of Habit

Social/Cultural

Household Role


Social Norms

Infrastructural

Convenience

Infrequent Collection


3.3. Key Findings: Views on current / possible future recycling efforts

Recycling Campaigns and Messages

Save-As-You-Reduce


Promoting Recycling through the Community

Incentives


3.4. Summary of Key Findings


Expanding the number of item types that people recycle

Storing recyclables at home

Increasing accessibility of recycling infrastructure

Raising awareness of the correct steps to recycle

Connecting with people

CONCLUSION

http://app.mewr.gov.sg/data/imgcont/1292/sustainbleblueprint_forweb.pdf


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http://app2.nea.gov.sg/topics_recyclingprog.aspx

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