A partnership programme between the London Waste & Recycling Board (LWARB) and WRAP has published insights from its research into improving recycling rates in flats.
Resource London launched its two year project with the Peabody Housing Association last year (see Letsrecycle.com story), which looked at ways to develop "innovative solutions to tackle some of the barriers" faced by London residents recycling in flats.
Resource London said that some of the common challenges which have emerged in the research have included space constraints in homes, the condition and location of communal bins on estates, and continuing confusion about what can be recycled.
Taking place on 12 housing estates across six inner London boroughs, the project has been testing different recycling interventions so that the successful initiatives can be replicated elsewhere.
So far, according to Resource London, the research has found that three factors – motivation, ease and knowledge – are all "necessary conditions for improving recycling rates in flats but are not always addressed fully by those delivering waste services".
The report added that while many people living in flats and estates are keen to recycle, they don't always feel that it is easy enough to do so or that they have the right knowledge to recycle effectively.
Other solutions include emotive messaging around communal areas to help residents feel more responsibility and motivation for recycling, and more smaller recycling bins around an estate, to make recycling more accessible and convenient.
Feedback mechanisms "to show residents their recycling efforts are appreciated" and in-home storage solutions have also been tested out.
Purpose-built flats make up 37% of London's residential accommodation, according to data from the Greater London Authority – with flats accounting for up to 80% of households in some boroughs.
The percentage of people living in purpose built flats in London is also set to rise, with nearly half (46%) set to be living in purpose built flats by 2030.
Gemma Scott, flats project manager for Resource London, said: "As the number of people living in flats increases, it's more important than ever to make recycling from those properties easy and achievable.
In terms of the project's impact, Resource London said that initial results have been positive, however a full breakdown of results is expected as the project progresses.
"A full waste composition analysis in June this year will provide more definitive results and recommendations, which will then be published and shared more widely," Resource London said.
Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy, Shirley Rodrigues, added: "The Mayor is committed to doing all he can to help London's boroughs raise their recycling rates and has set a target for the capital to achieve 65% municipal waste recycling by 2030.
Following on from the initial results of the project Resource London is launching a communications toolkit for other waste authorities considering improvements to their flats service.