Environment: Don't waste a chance to make a difference

NEARLY 90 per cent of people who recycle waste products in the Lothians are happy with the facilities available, but many still want to be able to do more to recycle plastic, food scraps and even batteries.

In a specially-commissioned survey by the Evening News, it was revealed that 94 per cent thought that it was important to take positive personal action to help protect the environment, including recycling, with almost 90 per cent believing that human actions are to blame for global warming.

The poll of 744 Evening News readers revealed that 88 per cent rated their recycling facilities highly, with 95 per cent recycling paper, 89.9 per cent glass and 82.9 per cent metal cans.

Plastic is also recycled by 68.3 per cent of those questioned, garden compost by 63.7 per cent and batteries by 51.1 per cent. Only two per cent said they didn't recycle anything.

However, when asked what they would recycle if there were better facilities, 48 per cent said food waste, 44 per cent said plastic and 31.2 per cent said batteries. Just 1.6 per cent said they're not interested in recycling.

Councillor Robert Aldridge, Edinburgh's environment leader, said plans were in the pipeline for more improvements to services in the Capital.

"We are developing a waste strategy with the aim of boosting recycling rates even further, and in this we will be looking at the introduction of plastics to our kerbside collection service," he said. "In the meantime, we are encouraging people to use the various recycling services available across the city."

In the Capital, 52.8 per cent said they wanted to recycle plastic.

In West Lothian, 90.6 per cent said they regularly recycled plastic waste but only 84.7 per cent said they did the same with glass. The local authority collects plastics but not glass. As a result 21.2 per cent would recycle more glass if there were better facilities.

Midlothian had the highest figure for garden compost recycling (77.3 per cent) while East Lothian had the most people recycling paper (98.4 per cent). In both regions, food waste came out top as the rubbish they'd most like to be able to recycle.

The survey also revealed slight gender differences with 98.7 per cent of women believing it was important to take personal action to help the environment compared to 90.7 per cent of men.

Age also played a part, with those in the 65-plus category doing the most recycling of garden compost (74.6 per cent).

Those in the 18-44 bracket had a 93.3 per cent tally for recycling paper but 58 per cent wanted to be able to recycle food waste, as did those in the 45-54 and 55-64 age categories.

Celebrating the launch of Prince Charles' green project

PRINCE Charles will help launch his green initiative Start in Scotland as part of a three-day environmental festival in St Andrew Square.

Start in St Andrew Square begins on Saturday and is part of the Prince's initiative to encourage people to make a "start" by adopting changes to their travel, energy, waste and lifestyle habits.

The festival will include a farmers' market, cooking demonstrations and a fashion display from Edinburgh designers Joey D and Fabhatrix.

Cycle stunt team The Clan will also give demonstrations, while Friends of the Earth will run workshops.

The Prince will attend the event on Monday.

Start was established by his charity, The Mayday Network, to promote a more sustainable way of living.

Among those organisations involved in the campaign is Scottish Business in the Community.

Its chief executive Jane Wood said: "We are delighted His Royal Highness will launch Start in Scotland. The national tour will showcase the very best sustainable projects across the country and demonstrate how we can all make positive changes – right now."