Baffled Brits are still confused about what materials can and cannot be recycled and are failing to recycle basic items including food (81 per cent), newspapers (65 per cent), and paper (59 per cent). Nearly half (42 per cent), of 2,000 adults polled, are worried that they do not recycle correctly due to a myriad of myths and misconceptions – with eight in ten households still missing simple items.
Other recyclable materials that are still being sent to the general waste bin include aluminium foil (73 per cent) and wine bottles (67 per cent), while only two in five (42 per cent) remember to break down their cardboard boxes for pick-up. And just under one in five simply can't be bothered to try – and pop everything in the normal rubbish bin, instead.
But one in four say they do not feel educated enough about the impact their recycling habits could have on the environment. This was put to the test in a video where members of the public were challenged on what you can and can't recycle – with some insightful results.
