Australians believe workplaces lack recycling options despite benefits

OVER 40 percent of Australians believe workplaces lack recycling options according to new research commissioned by Planet Ark.

This is despite roughly seven in 10 Australians agreeing recycling at work makes them happy and improves perceptions of employer responsibility.

The research conducted by Pollinate was commissioned as part of Planet Ark’s relaunch of the Business Recycling platform, a free service providing recycling information for Australian businesses since 2010.

“We’re thrilled to be celebrating 10 years of our Business Recycling program, which has made recycling easier for over a million Australian workers over the last decade," Planet Ark CEO Paul Klymenko said.

“By merging the platform with Recycling Near You, Australia’s most comprehensive recycling information service, we are creating a national one-stop-shop for recycling information whether at home or work.”

About one-third of all waste generated in Australia is business waste according to the most recent National Waste Report. Business Recycling enables Australian businesses to address their waste while also developing a competitive edge by improving business reputation and efficiency while reducing unnecessary costs.

NSW Energy and Environment Minister Matt Kean said the program is made possible, thanks to funding under the NSW Government’s Waste Less, Recycle More initiative.

“From Bega to Byron, and Swansea to Silverton the NSW Government is committed to reducing waste right across the State, that is why we are investing more than $800 million in the largest waste and recycling program in the country, to support projects like Planet Ark’s Business Recycling platform, that educate businesses on the benefits of boosting recycling efforts not only for the environment but for productivity too,” Mr Kean said.

The information provided on Business Recycling and Recycling Near You is representative of available recycling services in Australia.

BusinessRecycling.com.au. 

Key research findings:

• · 69% of Australians agree that recycling at work makes them happy*
• · 68% of Australians claim workplace recycling services improve perceptions of employer responsibility*
• · 62% of Australians claim that recycling at work is easy and convenient*
• · 43% of Australians claim there aren’t enough recycling options at work*
• · 39% of Australians claim their employer does not communicate waste and recycling information well*
• · Over 1 million Australians have used Business Recycling since it was launched, with over 3.2 million page views
• · Merging Business Recycling and Recycling Near You will result in a further half a million visits per year to the business platform.

* Research conducted by Pollinate. Sample: n=545, working Australians 14-64, Mar’20

 

About Planet Ark 

Planet Ark Environmental Foundation is an Australian not-for-profit organisation with a vision of a world where people live in balance with nature. Established in 1992, it is one of Australia’s leading environmental behaviour change organisations with a focus on working collaboratively and positively. Planet Ark promotes and creates simple, positive environmental actions – for everyone.

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