There was a surge in the number of Scots actively engaged in recycling their domestic refuse last year, according to the results of the 2005 Scottish Household Survey published by the Scottish Executive.
Statistics reveal that 75% of households recycled at least some glass, paper, metal or plastic within the month prior to completing the government questionnaire - well ahead of the 61% recorded in 2004. Scotland’s environment minister Ross Finnie attributed the ‘significant’ increase to the efforts of councils and community groups towards introducing recycling facilities.
According to the survey of some 30 000 people, 50% had recycled glass bottles in the previous month while the proportions for other forms of domestic recyclables were as follows: plastics 36%; metal cans 37%; and newspapers, magazines and/or cardboard 69%. Three-quarters of all the people questioned had recycled one or more of these items during the period in question.
Of those Scots who claimed not to have participated in domestic refuse recycling, 47% argued that facilities were not available while a further 11% suggested that facilities were inaccessible. Some 13% of the non-participants said that they had never given any thought to recycling.
