Recycling in Reality

Resource London

Summary 

Ethnographic research in London flats, to understand the barriers to recycling for residents.

Detail

This research was a resident-centred, highly in-depth exploration of the opportunities to improve recycling in purpose-built flats.

We utilised a place based approach and in-depth interviews to fully understand the possibilities for change from a resident-centred focus. Our suggested interventions sought to target the route causes of bad recycling behaviour, which were often the poor standards of recycling facilities, rather than relying on more gimmicky ‘positive nudge’ solutions.

The research culminated in a ‘Flats Recycling Package’ piloted across London, which has since been evaluated and found to have increased recycling by 26%. Resource London is now working with councils and housing associations in London to get the Flats Recycling Package introduced across the city.

Read the full report from our ethnographic research using the link to the left.

You can find the results of the evaluation of the Flats Recycling Package here: https://resourcelondon.org/resources/research-and-innovation/making-recycling-work-for-people-in-flats/