The crisis has not had nor does it seem likely to have significant effects on households\' habits when separating refuse and used packaging at home or their other environmental habits, according to the findings of a study entitled “Household waste separation habits and attitudes 2011\" conducted by Intercampus for Sociedade Ponto Verde.

None of the sample segments in the survey expect any change in their current attitudes to recycling packaging as a direct result of the economic recession (more than 85% of the respondents in all segments said that they would not change their attitudes). 

\"Thanks to the work that has been done, there is growing public awareness of the real need to protect Planet Earth. In fact, more people are choosing ecological or environmentally friendly products in the economic crisis,\" said Luís Veiga Martins, Managing Director of Sociedade Ponto Verde.

69% of homes in Portugal separate used packaging

Sixty-nine percent of the 1,075 respondents said that they usually separated refuse and used packaging at home. Forty-seven percent were total separators, i.e. they separated all types of refuse and used packaging, while 22% were partial separators, meaning that they separated only part of their refuse. This was the first time that the survey was conducted nationwide. A minority of only 31% of the total did not separate refuse or used packaging at all.

\"This is the highest figure ever since the study was first conducted in 2006. Households are showing a trend towards total separation. This means that the public is increasingly aware of the importance of recycling and is coming closer to the separation figures in countries in the centre of Europe,\" Veiga Martins pointed out.

In households that are total separators, the female members are those who most advocate the idea of separating refuse and used packaging at home (54%).

The arguments used most to justify not separating refuse and used packaging produced at home by those who have never done so were lack of proper receptacles (56%) and too much work for the person or family member involved (45%).

Alentejo leader in separation of waste

Separation represents the majority in all the regions surveyed (Lisbon, North, Centre, Alentejo and Algarve), varying between a minimum of 63% (Centre) and a maximum of 77% (Alentejo). Alentejo is the region where the most people separate and, along with the Algarve, the majority of households there are already total separators.

The survey also showed that it was households in the higher socioeconomic strata that were more likely to practise separation and total separation of refuse and used packaging at home. Separation has also been growing in other classes, however.

The type of waste separated most was glass bottles and jars, at 90%. Plastic bottles and cardboard boxes were in second place (78%), followed by newspapers and magazines (74%).

The waste separated least was polystyrene bases for food and aerosols such as deodorants and shaving foam (23%), along with metal ready-made food containers and food tins (32%).

Crisis affects consumption and public\'s eating habits are changing

The data on consumption show a different scenario. Following studies from previous years, Sociedade Ponto Verde decided to commission a survey of households\' attitudes and behaviour with regard to separation of refuse and used packaging at home and the possible impact of the economic crisis on people\'s environmental habits.

Almost half (48%) of the 1,075 respondents nationwide said that the crisis had had an impact on their eating habits. The impact was equally distributed between food that they bought to eat at home and food that they ate outside the home.

The crisis seemed to have had a clear effect of reducing purchases and consumption when eating at home and eating out. Ninety-two percent said that they bought less to eat at home and 97% said that they ate out less.

Greater rationalisation of consumption is expected in other environmental habits. Water and especially electricity are essentials that most households have reduced because of the crisis. Only 26% of households for electricity and 32% for water said that they would not decrease their normal consumption. The other respondents said that they wanted to reduce these two essentials.

The survey of 1,075 subjects was conducted by Intercampus using direct observation and personal interviews in mainland Portugal between 14 November and 20 December.