Redwood Launches Recycling project
4 January 2012
Redwood has launched a new project designed to help local authorities improve their communications with residents to help drive up recycling rates. For each tonne that’s recycled, the council saves at least £40 in landfill charges and taxes.
Dan Falchikov, one of the UK’s top communicators in the recycling field has been appointed by Redwood to head up the project. Dan devised and implemented the communications campaign for Rochford council which resulted in local people tripling the amount they recycled. This huge increase – from 20% to 60% - saved the authority more than £400,000 in landfill charges and tax and saw the council win The Green Apple Award for environmental best practice in 2010.
On 3 November 2011 The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) released figures showing that for the first time local authorities in England are, on average, recycling more than 40% of what household throw out. The differences between the best authorities and the worst, however, are stark. Top of the pile, Rochford in Essex, recycles more than 60% (well done Dan!!) whilst others struggle to reach 15%.
Redwood is also carrying out a survey across some of the local authorities with the lowest recycling rates to find out how they can improve their messaging to encourage the public to recycle more.
Dan explains “This survey is helping us to understand why councils can sometimes get the communications wrong. What is becoming clear is that councils with a strong, local and personalised communication strategy are far more likely to be successful. We are looking forward to working with the low performing councils to help improve their recycling rates and save significant amounts of money!”
