A physical survey to find out what our waste and recycling is made up of will be carried out on the Island starting this month.
The waste will be sent in a collection vehicle for sampling at a location on the Island.
No personal data or information will be identified neither will the sampled bins be identified with individual properties.
Chance to opt out
Residents of the roads selected to take part will be receiving their letters regarding the survey next week. If they do not wish to be involved, they can let the waste service team know.
Week one starts 19th August 2024 and week two will start from 9th September 2024.
Getting a better understanding of what is in our waste
The waste composition survey involves collecting samples of general waste, recycling and food waste and sorting them into various types and quantities of materials. This will give the council a better understanding of what is in our waste.
This will help the council to improve waste and recycling information and campaigns for residents in the future. It will also help better manage waste generated on the Island.
The Island recycled 48 per cent of household waste in 2022/23.
Peacey-Wilcox: This study isn’t targeting specific people
Councillor Lora Peacey-Wilcox, Cabinet lead for waste services, said,
“Thank you in advance to all the residents of the roads which have been selected for this survey. During this week, they may see a different van collecting the waste or recycling from their property for this study.
“This study isn’t targeting specific people. We are reassuring residents taking part that all information collected will remain anonymous. Any waste surveyed will not be linked to any properties.”
Findings from previous survey
Natasha Dix, service director for waste, environment and planning, said,
“The survey will give us an idea of how people sort their waste, and, on average, what is generated. This means that if there are certain items that appear in waste that could be recycled, such as plastic or food waste, it’ll flag up the areas we need to focus on with our education campaigns.
“The last time the study was carried out in 2019/20, we found that 23 per cent of general household waste in black bins and reusable sacks was food waste. This could have been recycled in your food waste container at the kerbside – where it is sent for recycling into compost.”
100 households involved
The survey will be carried out in several areas across the Island to make up a representative sample of 100 households.
The first stage will be carried out during August 2024, when waste quantities are expected to be higher, due to the tourist season. The second stage will be carried out in September 2024, when waste quantities are expected to be lower.
The waste will be collected as normal on the usual scheduled day of the week, in the streets involved in the study. Residents do not need to do anything different to the normal arrangement for putting out waste and recycling for collection – i.e. placing receptacles out by 7am on the day of collection.
Who is analysing your waste
This survey will be carried out by Integrated Skills on behalf of the council, working in partnership with its waste service provider. Integrated Skills specialise in waste services and studies and have has conducted many similar surveys for other local authorities across the UK.
Collected waste will be kept secured throughout the analysis and once completed, the council’s waste service provider will dispose of the collected waste or recycling in the normal way.
News shared by Isle of Wight council press office, in their own words. Ed
