Kerbside Collection Deep Dive Infrastructure Victoria Final Report Infrastructure Victoria, 1 Kerbside Collection Deep Dive, Nov 2019 Contents About the research 3 Detailed findings 8 Drivers and barriers to adherence 9 Reactions to initiatives 19 Optimal configuration 28 Appendices 30 Infrastructure Victoria, 2 Kerbside Collection Deep Dive, Nov 2019 About the research Infrastructure Victoria, 3 Kerbside Collection Deep Dive, Nov 2019 Background In June 2019, Infrastructure Victoria undertook a community survey to understand, at a high level, Victorians’ perception of recycling and their willingness to change household behaviours. The polling demonstrated Victorians had a high appetite for various potential kerbside waste sorting / collection initiatives. Infrastructure Victoria want to understand Victorians’ attitudes, perceptions and factors which will influence the success of various This subsequent qualitative deep dive sought potential kerbside waste sorting / collection to obtain more discerning feedback once initiatives. The research will inform householders understood the implications of Infrastructure Victoria’s advice to Government the schemes. on recycling and resource recovery infrastructure, due in April 2020. Infrastructure Victoria, 4 Kerbside Collection Deep Dive, Nov 2019 Research objectives The specific objectives of the project were to: Understand awareness, attitudes and perceptions of current kerbside 1. waste sorting / collection practices, including factors which may limit more complete adherence. Explain why initial receptiveness to proposed new kerbside waste 2. initiatives polled as high. Explore how thoughts develop as new information is added about the 3. implications of proposed new initiatives.. Investigate the level of motivation to adhere to new initiatives and what 4. is underlying that motivation. Conversely, what will limit adherence and how this can be addressed. Compare initiatives against one another to conclude which represent the 5. best strategic opportunities for Government. Infrastructure Victoria, 5 Kerbside Collection Deep Dive, Nov 2019 Who we spoke to High Moderate / low A total of n=44 focus group participants: adherence to adherence to Total waste sorting waste sorting practices practices • Victorians aged 18+, who are responsible for managing / sorting waste for their household. Metro 2 2 4 • A mix of genders and life-stage / household composition. Melbourne • Each participant completed a 15-minute homework task consisting of questions Bendigo 1 1 2 related to awareness of council collections, and perceptions towards waste sorting practices prior to the focus groups. Groups lasted 90 minutes. Total 3 3 6 • Groups were conducted over three evenings on 12th – 14th November 2019. Note that, to facilitate a shared discussion, and to highlight where there are differences in perspective, groups were split between those who do / do not completely adhere to current waste sorting practices. The project was carried out in line with the Market Research International Standard, AS ISO 20252. Infrastructure Victoria, 6 Kerbside Collection Deep Dive, Nov 2019 Who we spoke to Participants were sampled to reflect a range of demographic characteristics. Gender n= Annual household income n= Work status n= Council n= Male 21 Less than $50,000 9 Employed full-time 23 Greater Bendigo 15 Female 23 $50,000 - $74,999 14 Employed part-time/casual 9 Port Phillip 4 $75,000-$99,999 7 Student 1 Maribyrnong 3 Age n= $100,000-$149,000 9 Working and student 3 Moreland 3 18-24 5 $150,000-$199,000 3 Home duties 3 Wyndham 2 15-34 6 More than $200,000 2 Retired 4 Hobsons Bay 2 35-44 11 Unemployed 1 Bayside 2 45-54 9 Children under 18 at home n= Stonnington 2 55-64 10 Yes, all aged under 13 years 9 Moonee valley 2 65-70 3 Yes, at least one aged 13 or over 8 Boroondara 1 No 27 Melton 1 Monash 1 Maroondah 1 Victorians from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds were included in the research. Whitehorse 1 Darebin 1 Infrastructure Victoria, 7 Kerbside Collection Deep Dive, Nov 2019 Detailed findings Infrastructure Victoria, 8 Kerbside Collection Deep Dive, Nov 2019 Drivers and barriers to adherence Infrastructure Victoria, 9 Kerbside Collection Deep Dive, Nov 2019 Victorians feel a sense of duty to the environment Informed by a broad range of sources, they are concerned about the environment and feel it is important to take actions to minimise their impact. Some are more committed – they are more cognisant of the impact of environmental issues, have well established sorting habits, and are willing to go out of their way to seek ways to recycle or create their own sorting systems. At the apex, the most committed already take non-kerbside waste to collection centres and upcycling programs within their community. Those who are less active – rather than dismissing the environment entirely – feel a sense of duty to do ‘the right thing’ but just don’t do it consistently or don’t prioritise it over other factors such as convenience. Too much of our waste goes to landfill and impacts on our environment. It just isn’t right. Infrastructure Victoria, 10 Kerbside Collection Deep Dive, Nov 2019 The positive habits of those committed to correctly sorting waste are deeply ingrained Rather than having a rational basis, those committed to correctly sorting waste cite a broad emotional connection to ‘the environment’, and are compelled to ‘do the right thing’ by habit: ‘It’s who I am’ ‘It has been instilled in me’ ‘I have an obligation not just to myself but to others’ Environmentally conscious – positive waste It is common for Victorians to describe that sorting practices are just one expression of waste sorting behaviors have been habitual They have a more developed social this audience’s interest in minimising their for such a long time, that they are now conscience and a broader sense of social footprint. They commonly describe caring for second nature. The systems they used when responsibility. A part of this persuasion is to the environment and taking positive steps as growing up tend to have translated into the place higher importance / priority on the part of how they self-identify. systems they are using nowadays. This is environment. especially true of younger audiences who may never have known any differently. Infrastructure Victoria, 11 Kerbside Collection Deep Dive, Nov 2019 Recycling for me is just automatic. It’s part of who I am. I don’t plan it, it just happens. Infrastructure Victoria, 12 Kerbside Collection Deep Dive, Nov 2019 Mature Victorians and those living in regional areas have higher tendency to adhere to current waste sorting practices Empty nesters / retirees Regional residents I have the time and space to make it a priority Mature Victorians are are less time pressured so face fewer barriers Compared to metro residents, regional residents have more space - giving them to sorting their waste correctly and consistently. more freedom to sort their waste as they wish before collection and to keep their waste separated into different streams (e.g. kitchen caddy for food waste, extra They also have more consistent, structured lifestyles, so their waste bins / storage indoor for recyclables, etc). generation is less likely to change and they are less likely to be in situations where their waste collection system is insufficient (e.g. They are also less concerned about having to store their dry recyclables for an overfilling of the recycling bin). extra week / wait for next collection. Regional residents are more likely to engage in more ‘drop-off’ behaviours, made easier by their proximity to these centres compared to Metro residents and the predictability of traffic congestion. Infrastructure Victoria, 13 Kerbside Collection Deep Dive, Nov 2019 Environmental concerns alone cannot dependably drive engagement with waste sorting practices It is common for Victorians to put environmental concerns to the back of their mind in the face of other more pressing day-to-day matters. For those who don’t consistently adhere to waste sorting practices, other concerns more personal to them, such as careers, caring for their families, or staying healthy, take up the majority of their focus. This results in little room for conscious thought about the environment in their everyday behaviours. It takes too long to work out what can and can’t go into each bin. I have three kids at home, I just want to get the trash out of my house, I have other things I need to focus on. Infrastructure Victoria, 14 Kerbside Collection Deep Dive, Nov 2019 Uncertainty creates misconceptions about how the system works and negatively impacts commitment to sorting Victorians generally associate certain items as ‘obviously recyclable’ – for example, plastic bottles, dry cardboard and glass. However, there is a ‘grey area’ between what they know can definitely be recycled and what can’t. In this grey area, they are left to their own accord to figure out how they should dispose of the waste. Those not inclined to to proactively seek clarity on how to sort waste likely do the wrong thing much of the time in one of two ways… ‘Let the system take care of it’ ‘It’s better to be safe than sorry’ Alternatively, they may dispose of the item in the recycling bin. They believe that sorting out non- When unsure, they may dispose of the item in the recyclable waste is one of Council’s roles and that landfill bin. The main reason for this is a concern that recycling facilities cater for this. Further, they believe if anything non-recyclable was included among a that at least attempting to recycle an item is better batch of recyclable items, it would mean the entire than the certainty of it going to landfill by putting it in batch would go to landfill as a result of the non- the general waste bin. recyclable item ‘contaminating’ the others.