Background

In 1999, Project Integra received a grant from the Onyx Environmental Trust, along with pooled funds from the Project Integra partners, to conduct in-depth research into the contents of Hampshire's household waste stream.

This is known as the Project Integra Household Waste Research Programme, and its successful implementation has been quite an achievement.

This type of research has never been carried out before in the UK, and due to its unique and comprehensive nature, the study also has national and international importance. The results will therefore be disseminated to a range of organisations and bodies to further the debate and understanding of waste trends.

Over 62 waste samples from all thirteen waste collection authorities were examined in detail, weighed and categorised into a total of 164 fractions!  A representative sample of over 1,500 residents have been quizzed in their homes, about not only their attitudes and behaviour to do with waste, but also their shopping habits.  Even people taking their rubbish to their local Household Waste Recycling Centre have not been spared, as they also took part in research to analyse the waste they throw away or recycle.

Results

The results indicate:

• Although waste composition did vary across the county, the most significant parts of the waste were consistently paper and card, and the putrescible element.
• Diversion rates for recyclables also varied across the waste collection authorities. Factors that could contribute to this were socio-demographic profiles, collection container and the range of targeted materials collected.
• The range of waste collected per household per week varied from 9-25kg.
• There appears to be a trend in that people with wheeled bins produce more waste than those using bin bags.
• As many customers of Household Waste Recycling Centres recycle their waste as dispose of it. Garden waste was by far the most commonly taken waste (although it must be borne in mind that the sampling was undertaken in the spring).

What next?

The results will provide valuable data for Project Integra partners when considering how best to deal with future waste volumes in an integrated manner.

A Project Integra Research Working Group has been established.  This group has been tasked to:

• fully analyse the results
• assess the implications for the Integra waste strategy and future waste practices
• make comparisons and identify best practice
• examine opportunities for more materials to be reduced, reused and recycled
• identify key messages to communicate to the public
• use data when planning for future changes, eg as a result of the Landfill Directive

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