Study Reveals Public Concern about Global Warming is High: But awareness about reducing and reusing waste is low

SACRAMENTO--A recent study by the California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) reveals that 85 percent of those surveyed believe global warming is real. It also reveals more than 78 percent of all respondents believe practicing recycling and waste reduction has an impact on global warming. However, when asked how they can prevent landfill waste, the majority of Californians only cited recycling habits.

"There is a real need to educate Californians about all positive environmental practices and habits," said Margo Reid Brown CIWMB Chair. "We need to get back to basics and promote the importance of reducing, reusing and recycling."

The purpose of the survey, conducted in November 2007, is to allow the Board to better understand and uncover waste reduction and recycling habits and motivational factors of Californians. The survey revealed that in addition to concerns about global warming, 79 percent of respondents were also somewhat or very concerned about the amount of garbage California households produce. Other key findings included:

• While the majority of Californians regularly recycle key household items, only one-fourth are recycling as much household waste as they can. Having nothing else to recycle, inconvenience, and not having recycling bins were the top reasons for not recycling more.
• Half of Californians properly dispose of hazardous waste yet 15 percent of respondents stated they do not know what constitutes hazardous waste. The most frequent reasons for not disposing of hazardous waste properly included lack of information about where to go, followed by lack of time.
• The majority of Californians have a high awareness of recycling practices but many respondents indicated that they are less familiar with strategies to reduce waste.

Recommendations from the study include:

• Increase public outreach to promote waste reduction and reuse.
• Increase awareness about what constitutes household hazardous waste and where collections sites are located.
• Focus resources on making disposal convenient, rather than provide financial incentives.
• Support efforts to make recycling services available to multi-family households.
• Continue outreach to multi-cultural audiences, especially Spanish-speaking residents.

The study and its recommendations will provide the Waste Board with information on where to focus future outreach efforts.

For more information on the study or tips on how to reduce, reuse and recycle, visit www.zerowaste.ca.gov.

About the Study

Results of the survey are based on telephone interviews conducted under the direction of Gomez Research. The statewide survey of 822 Californians was conducted between September 14 and October 17, 2007, at the 95 percent confidence level with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percent for the overall survey.

The California Integrated Waste Management Board is the state's leading authority on recycling and waste reduction. It promotes reducing waste whenever possible, managing all materials to their highest and best use and protecting public health and safety and the environment.

The California Integrated Waste Management Board is one of six boards, departments, and offices within the California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA).

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Zero Waste California
Visit us at www.ciwmb.ca.gov to learn more about reducing waste.