RRF Conference (September 7, 2006):London

RECYCLING INCENTIVES - THE POWERS OF PERSUASION

RECYCLING INCENTIVES - THE POWERS OF PERSUASION: international conference on changing household behaviour in selective collection

“Changing householder behaviour is key to driving forward waste reduction, re-use and recycling performance. The Government believes that household incentives can be an effective way to engage with householders and encourage them to manage their waste more sustainably”(Defra, 2005)".

This conference ws arranged by RRF in association with M·E·L Research and the University of Brighton's Waste & Environment Research Group (WERG).

The conference presentations are now available online.

• Dominic Hogg, Eunomia - Instruments to change behaviour
• Francis Radermaker, ACR+ - Incentives: European experience
• Claire Wilding, Defra - Review of Defra‘s waste strategy - incentives & other tools for encouraging householder recycling
• Andy Maunder, AEA Technology - Household recycling incentives pilot schemes - initial results
• Ryan Woodward, Brighton University - Results from a series of voucher incentive schemes
• Marie Harder, Brighton University - Results from a series of community & school incentive schemes
• Robert Pocock & Darren Coss, M·E·L Research - What’s the Impact? – Using Evidence from the Nottinghamshire County Council Incentive Scheme
• Panel discussion pilot points & delegate discussion - Pilot scheme feedback from several local authorities, and incentive programme planning:
  • Dawn Cadby, Essex Council
  • Daniel Sage, St Edmondsbury Council
  • Jody Sherratt, Vale Royal District Council

Background to the Defra Household Incentives Progamme

In March 2005 Defra launched a £5 million pilot study programme of local authority household incentives in England. The study set out to evaluate the effectiveness of a comprehensive range of incentive schemes, in encouraging householders to reduce, recycle and compost their waste. Defra received 94 proposals for support under the household incentive pilot schemes, many from partnerships of authorities. From these, around 50 proposals were selected.

The pilots tested a variety of incentives, ranging from community league tables with environmental enhancements for the winning area, to pledges leading to equipment for schools, although the most popular were lottery-style prize draws.

A number of the pilots used weighing technology to measure accurately the impact of incentives. The proposals tested the value of incentives on a whole range of different target populations, ranging from villages to high-rise estates, and from the highest performers (focusing on waste minimisation and reducing contamination in collected recyclables) to the lowest (focus is on encouraging participation).

Consultants AEA Technology worked with the local authorities to ensure a robust framework in place for monitoring and evaluating the schemes. M-E-L Research and the University of Brighton’s Waste & Environment Research Group (WERG) tracked some of the pilot projects. Each of these partners, together with Defra and a number of participating local authorities gathered in London to discuss lessons learned and the way forward.