The most recent Waste in Campaspe — Know, Educate, Do (WICKED) survey asked 211 residents about their attitudes toward waste and the environment and found more than three-quarters — or 81 per cent — of those who responded are concerned about the state of the environment.
This is up 11 per cent from last year and something Campaspe Shire Mayor Adrian Weston said shows across the survey, with waste to landfill reduced by 4.1 per cent in the past 12 months.
Another impressive rise was the use of reusable shopping bags. With the major supermarkets moving away from single-use plastic bags, there was a 53 per cent increase in survey respondents using their own bags at the checkout.
Mayor Adrian Weston said the WICKED survey provides a cross-section of the community’s behaviours and attitudes.
‘‘The survey provides council with valuable information on the community’s knowledge, attitudes and behaviours towards waste and the environment,’’ Cr Weston said.
Now in its fifth year the WICKED survey concludes the five-year Waste and Environment Behaviour Change Program.
Cr Weston said the survey results will assist the development of the next five-year program, which is set to launch next year. Future programs will focus heavily on where knowledge gaps exist and where positive behaviour change can be improved.
‘‘Information obtained from the survey will assist council in identifying priorities and planning future programs,’’ Cr Weston said.
Other key findings of the survey include:
■74 per cent of households always use the cold water cycle when washing clothes;
■94 per cent of households use their own bags when shopping (53 per cent on last year);
■53 per cent of households actively conserve energy, water or gas in the home;
■78 per cent of people use public recycle bins;
■8 per cent less people are disposing of food waste in their household waste bins;
■11 per cent more households are using a home compost or worm farm for food waste;
■9 per cent of people claim to know what items can and can’t go in the recycle bin;
■68 per cent of people recycle even if it takes additional effort;
■More than three-quarters (81 per cent) of people use one of council’s transfer station;
■53 per cent of people know how to report someone who is littering or illegally dumping their waste (6 per cent more than last year).
‘‘It’s pleasing to see the WICKED program is providing positive results and the community is congratulated,’’ Cr Weston said.
The full report of the survey is available at campaspe.vic.gov.au