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Features for Senior Citizens
Senior Citizens Lead the Nation in Recycling Home
Waste
Harris finds 77% of American adults do some
recycling at home
July 11, 2007 Now this is something about senior
citizens that may surprise you - a new Harris Polls finds that people
age 62 and older, whom Harris calls the Matures, are more likely to
practice recycling than are younger Americans.
While an impressive three-quarters (77%) of
American adults recycle something in their own home, the senior citizens
62+ lead all age groups with 81% recycling something.
What Is Recycled?
When it comes to recycling, two-thirds of adults
(67%) say they recycle aluminum or metal cans, while three in five (59%)
recycle paper and 57 percent recycle plastic. Just over half of adults
(54%) recycle glass. The Matures lead in every category.
Why Dont They Recycle?
Among those who do not recycle, the reasons are
very varied. One in six (15%) say they do not recycle because it is not
available in their area while 12 percent each say it takes too much
effort and it costs more to recycle where they live. Just one in ten
(11%) say they do not recycle because they dont believe it makes a
difference while six percent say they are too busy and five percent say
it is too difficult.
There is also a regional difference in who recycles
and who does not. Those in the East and West are more likely to recycle
(88% and 86% respectively). One-third (32%) of those in the South as
well as three in ten (30%) of those in the Midwest, however, say they
recycle nothing.
These are some of the results of a Harris Poll of
2,372 adults surveyed online between June 5 and 11, 2007 by Harris
Interactiveฎ. This survey was conceived and developed by Harris
Interactive and was not commissioned by any organization; however,
Harris says it sought and received valuable input from the Food
Marketing Institute.
Who recycles what?
"In your own home, do you separate and recycle
any of the following?"
Base: All Adults
|
|
Total |
Generation |
|
Echo Boomers
(18-30) |
Gen X
(31-42) |
Baby Boomers
(43-61) |
Matures
(62+) |
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
RECYCLE (NET) |
77 |
70 |
80 |
77 |
81 |
|
Aluminum or metal cans |
67 |
60 |
70 |
68 |
70 |
|
Paper |
59 |
50 |
58 |
60 |
68 |
|
Plastic |
57 |
51 |
57 |
61 |
60 |
|
Glass (bottles) |
54 |
50 |
55 |
54 |
57 |
|
Cardboard |
3 |
5 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
|
Batteries, motor oil and other
hazardous materials |
2 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
Organic materials |
2 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
|
Metal |
1 |
* |
1 |
1 |
3 |
|
Electronics |
1 |
1 |
1 |
* |
1 |
|
Something else |
2 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
|
Nothing |
23 |
30 |
20 |
23 |
19 |
Note: Percentages may not
add up to exactly 100% due to rounding.
Note Multiple Response
question
Note: * = less than 0.5%
>>
For the complete survey results at Harris Interactive, click here.
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