When asked about plastic waste, 96% of respondents agree that more initiatives are needed by industry to limit plastic waste and increase recycling, 94 % agree that better information should be provided about which plastics are recyclable, 93% agree that the production of non-recyclable plastics should be stopped and recyclable materials used instead, while 92 % agree that measures should be taken to reduce the use of single-use plastic items, such as shopping bags.
A large majority of respondents (94%) agreed they would support the development of an EU-level target to reduce the amount of litter entering the oceans. At least nine out of ten people say they would support EU targets on marine litter in all Member States, with the exception of the Netherlands (88%), where a tenth of respondents (10%) say they would not be in favour of this kind of target. Support for an EU target is highest in Malta, Portugal, Croatia and Spain (all 98%).
Background
The full results of the study “Attitudes of Europeans towards Waste Management and Resource Efficiency – Flash Eurobarometer 388” are available here.
This survey was carried out by TNS Political & Social network in the 28 Member States of the European Union between 3 and 7 December 2013. Some 26,595 respondents from different social and demographic groups were interviewed via telephone (landline and mobile phone) in their mother tongue on behalf of the European Commission, DG Environment.
Today’s results are largely in line with the resource efficiency agenda established under the Europe 2020 Strategy on smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. With the Roadmap to a Resource Efficient Europe in 2011 the Commission proposed a framework for action and underlined the need for an integrated approach across many policy areas and levels. The main ideas from the Roadmap were developed further in the General Union Environmental Action Programme (7th EAP), which has as a priority objective to turn the EU into a resource-efficient, green and competitive low-carbon economy.
Source: Envirocentre.ie – 80% of Europeans Want Their Country To Waste Less
