Poll shows that Fermanagh and Omagh householders are quite avid recyclers

In a 28 per cent increase from the same poll carried out in 2019, 93 per cent of householders now say that they recycle everything they can, and only 2 per cent of respondents in Fermanagh and Omagh said they put glass directly into their general waste bin, rather than recycle it.

The survey showed that in council areas, such as Fermanagh and Omagh, where household recyclables (plastic, cardboard, paper, card, tins, and cardboard, etc.) can be ‘comingled’ with glass in the same bin, householders were more likely not to dump glass in their general waste bins (1.8 per cent), compared to those in council areas that did not offer this service (6 per cent).

Joseph Doherty, Managing Director of Re-Gen Waste, which commissioned the poll, said: “These survey results indicate that prioritising simplicity and convenience is key to ensuring a high level of household recycling and that glass does not end up in landfill.”

When respondents in Fermanagh and Omagh were asked if they would recycle less if they had to separate their household waste, including glass waste into separate caddies, more than one third (36 per cent) said they would recycle less.

‘Good intentions’

Mr. Doherty continued: “While people may have the desire to be better recyclers, their good intentions do not always reflect their behaviour.

“Local authorities need to provide solutions and alternatives to current practices to help people recycle more, so simple factors – such as making recycling as convenient as possible by comingling – can be key to helping us all become better recyclers.

“Councils such as Fermanagh and Omagh are benefitting from the convenience and cost savings achieved by using comingling collection services, alongside an ultra-modern materials recovery facility.”

The survey was carried out by Lucid Talk across all 11 council areas in Northern Ireland in March.