#LeedsByExample 12-month impact report reveals key findings

Lessons learned from #LeedsByExample will be used to ensure success of new on-the-go recycling schemes across the country

The pioneering #LeedsByExample project was launched in October 2018 by environmental charity Hubbub and Ecosurety. As the UK's biggest collaborative push to improve on-the-go recycling, it introduced 186 new recycling points and new technology in the square mile of Leeds City centre. The purpose of the pilot was to test the impact of new bin designs, bin locations and communications over the course of a year.

Key results revealed in the 12-month report include that over the year the number of people recycling in Leeds City Centre nearly tripled from 17% to 49%, whilst the number of people recycling their coffee cup quadrupled from 14% to 53% by the end of the trial.

Of the 1.2 million coffee cups recycled, over 9% were from on-street bins, 39% from managed locations such as workplaces and universities and over 50% from retailers.

The trial found that simply changing the colour and messaging of the bins had a significant impact on the amount of recycling collected. Contamination was also tackled through clear messaging such as 'Empty plastic and cans, nowt else' and consistent colour coding, resulting in contamination rates of 39%, significantly below the national average of 51%.

It was also found that the quality of recycling reduced during holiday or leisure periods when footfall rises, due to more people in the city centre who are not 'regulars'.

The full 12-month #LeedsByExample impact report can be downloaded by clicking here

Impacting recycling on-the-go across the UK

Although the one year pilot has come to an end, the project will continue as Leeds City Council have taken over the waste collections and will continue to work with local partner - to monitor the scheme. They are keen to increase the number of recycling points and build on the what has been learnt to date.