Survey Finds Permanent Shift In Public Attitude To Recycling
Community Recycling As A Blue Recycling Bin To Recycle Waste And

A new survey has revealed that the public’s attitude towards recycling and reusing items is very positive. Let’s Recycle reports that the survey, commissioned by FCC Environment, found that 85% of respondents agreed that all household waste recycling centres (HWRCs) should have a charity reuse shop onsite or nearby, a rise of 5% since 2022.

The number of people buying second hand items at least every six months has also risen from 47% to 55%. This is thought to be partly driven by the cost of living crisis as households seek ways to trim their budgets and cut back on unnecessary expenses. The people most likely to make purchases from reuse shops were those with children under the age of five. 

Steve Longdon, chief executive of FCC Environment, said: “It is heartening to see that the appetite for reuse has taken hold, and the second-hand and repair mentality is gaining in popularity amongst the public. People, or at least 90 percent of them, are keen to give good quality items a new life, which is just proven by our research.”

Mr Longdon added: “We’re really proud of the work we do at our reuse shops to not only contribute to the local community by raising funds for local charities but also by encouraging the development of a circular economy. Reuse is also a win for the environment and a win for the public, everyone’s a winner!”

90% of respondents agreed that broken items should be repaired rather than replaced wherever possible. During the summer, the UK government announced plans to drive up the rate of repair and reuse of existing materials in an effort to slow the use of new resources.

The plans, titled ‘Maximising Resources, Minimising Waste’, comprise various measures that are backed by government funding. They include scrapping fees for households to have bulky domestic furniture collected by retailers, cutting back on textile waste, and putting more robust measures in place for the recycling of small electrical items. 

Environment Minister Rebecca Pow said: “We mean business when it comes to preventing waste. We’re targeting the sectors responsible for the biggest impacts on the environment, and working with business to take the right steps for better use of our precious resources.”

Harriet Lamb, WRAP CEO, said: “Nearly half of all greenhouse gases come from our own ‘consumption’ – what you and I do every day, how we shop and what we buy. Tackling these emissions from food to clothes, packaging to electronics and more is imperative if we’re to have any chance of limiting the crisis of our changing climate.”

“Increasing repair and reuse is key to supporting the move towards more circular living which many people and community groups are embracing and WRAP welcomes more support for such initiatives.”

The government has set a target to recycle 65% of all household waste by 2035, and to eliminate all avoidable waste, including food and drink, by 2050.

If you are looking for conveyor belt skirting, please get in touch today.

More News

Hoverdale Vulcanising Services

What is Conveyor Belt Vulcanising?

The Essential Role of Vulcanising in Conveyor Belt Durability and Maintenance. Vulcanising is a pivotal process in the manufacturing and

Shopping Basket
× Need help? Click here to chat

MATT BEVERLEY

A time served Mechanical engineer Matt’s background includes many high-profile projects within the Automotive Industry: The Rolls Royce Phantom, Rolls Royce Cullinan, Spyker Le-Mans racing teams, Bentley, Aston Martin, and Airbus A380. This history and knowledge of complex manufacturing and engineering projects have been transferred and further developed into the bulk material handling sector. Matt has work in Europe, North America, Indonesia, and China

He joined the bulk solids and bulk handling industry in 2019 as Managing Director of Hoverdale UK Ltd and subsequently completed a Management buyout in July 2020. The business has grown yearly, increased employment, its customer base, and worldwide reputation, and disrupted the market with groundbreaking innovative technology. Since Matt took over Hoverdale, the company has filed four patents for innovation; one was granted in 2023 for a design to improve bulk handling. The success had been driven by delivering tailored solutions to the waste recycling sectors that keep material flowing out and money flowing in.

Awards Include

  • 2024 – Shapa company of the Year
  • 2024- Shapa Innovation in Technology
  • 2024- MHEA Engineer of the year
  • 2021 – MHEA Innovation of the year
  • 2021- IMechE Innovation award

Current Positions Include.

  • Group Chairman Hoverdale UK Ltd
  • President (MHEA) Material Handling Engineers Association
  • Vice Chairman: IMechE Bulk Material Handling Committee
  • Council Member: (SHAPA) Solids Handling & Particle Association
  • Member: Chartered Management Institute

Matt has been happily married to Julie for 22 years and has 4 children, 3 of which are involved within the Hoverdale group of companies. He is an RFU level 2 qualified coach and referee having been in several head coaching roles at various age groups from under 6’s to adults for his local team Nuneaton RFC. He believes in the core values that rugby teaches of Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline, Sportsmanship and try’s to carry this through in his day to day business activities. He is passionate at brining the next generation of young, diverse engineers into the sector through promotion of apprenticeship scheme and further education routes.

DAVID BARTER

David is an experienced leader, with a background covering Operations, eCommerce, Finance, Compliance, HR and IT. His career spans Banking, Retail and Engineering, spending the majority of his career working for ALDI as they grew to become 4th largest supermarket in the UK, including seven years on their UK board as Managing Director of IT and eCommerce.

David joined Hoverdale’s Senior Management Team in 2023 to seek a fresh challenge in a completely different industry sector. He has applied his approach to Process Improvement, Efficiency, Customer Service and Teamwork to great effect during Hoverdale’s sustained growth.

Married to Jane, with three adult sons between them, David volunteers on the board of the Nottingham Playhouse theatre as well as his local rugby and football clubs. Any spare time he spends enjoying walks with their Golden Retriever, Buzz, who is also regularly seen in the Hoverdale office.

BEN DUCHESNE

Ben is a time serviced field service engineer in the busy waste and recycling sector, who’s career moved into to managing service teams and beyond. Originally beginning his career with a HGV repair and maintenance apprenticeship with IVECO, from there travelling and working in multiple countries moving towards waste processing shredders.

Ben joined the Hoverdale team in September 2024 seeking to apply his extensive knowledge to a new area. His values and ethics fit perfectly within the Hoverdale ethos.

He is happily married to Kristina, with 4 wonderful young children; 14, 11, 8 and 5. We the children he doesn’t get much spare time. He is a family man, who enjoys spending as much time with them as possible.