Poll shows positive views on recycling in central Ohio

A public opinion poll conducted by the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (SWACO), Columbus, Ohio, and the Columbus office of EMC Research shows the majority of Ohio’s Franklin County residents recycle because it’s the right thing to do and is good for the environment. The survey also reveals that limitations on what is accepted for recycling and access to recycling containers presented barriers to recycling for some residents. 

SWACO says it is using the data from the study to inform decisions about waste diversion program offerings in 2018 and beyond and to develop a public policy agenda and programmatic strategic plan, including waste diversion education and programs to overcome recycling barriers. SWACO has established a community-wide goal of reaching 50% diversion by the end of 2020 and 75% diversion by 2032.  

SWACO hired EMC Research to conduct a random telephone intervie

w with 600 Franklin County households in November 2017. The survey sample was representative of Franklin County’s population in terms of age, gender, education, income, race and ethnicity and geography, the agency says. Most residents surveyed (73 percent) live in single-family houses and most (81 percent) have access to recycling at home. 

Key findings of the poll include:

• Nearly three-quarters of the residents surveyed recycle regularly, but access is a problem for residents in multifamily housing and limitations on what’s accepted for recycling in the curbside program are cited as barriers to additional recycling.
• Residents generally have a favorable view toward recycling, with 93-percent saying it is a source of community pride.
• Residents believe in recycling’s beneficial environmental impacts as well as broad economic impacts, with 94-percent saying local governments should lead the way toward recycling and waste reduction.
• About half report confusion about what can be recycled.

Even with limitations on what is accepted in the curbside recycling program by the material recovery facility (MRF), Franklin County still boasts a diversion rate of 46.5 percent, which is higher than the national average (34 percent), SWACO says.

To assist with accomplishing the shorter-term goal of reaching 50 percent diversion and overcoming reported barriers regarding confusion, in 2018 SWACO is launching a countywide awareness and marketing recycling educational initiative titled Recycle Right, Make a Difference. The program will help to address questions about why certain materials, such as No. 5 plastics (polypropylene) aren’t currently accepted and will focus on how recycling right leads to greater environmental, social and economic benefits for the entire community.

While 96 percent of single-family households in Franklin County have access to a curbside program, recycling opportunities for multifamily properties are limited to securing a private contract or to using one of SWACO’s more than 50 drop-off recycling locations across the County. SWACO sys it will implement programs to address commercial recycling, including multifamily housing units in 2019 as outlined in the strategic plan adopted by the SWACO Board of Trustees.

SWACO also says it will create an action plan this year to address food waste reduction and diversion and will adopt a public policy agenda which will guide the organizations local and statewide advocacy efforts.