Pay-by-weight method of payment preferred

Almost three-quarters of adults would prefer a pay-by-weight method of waste collection, a survey commissioned by recycling company Repak has found.

Ninety per cent of those surveyed said charging for rubbish by weight would encourage them to recycle more. However, 27 per cent said recycling was "too much hassle" and a similar number said they never visit their local recycling centre. The study amongst 1,200 adults was carried out by Millard Brown IMS and was commissioned by Repak for National Recycling Week.

The survey follows the announcement last week by the Minister for the Environment, Mr Cullen, that he intends having the pay-by-weight system in place in all local authority areas by 2005.

"This research shows that environmental concerns and access to recycling facilities are not enough by themselves," Repak chief executive Mr Andrew Hetherington said. "People want to be rewarded for recycling."