Poll: Two-thirds of Czechs sort waste regularly

Prague, Feb 18 (CTK) - A total of 68 percent of Czechs sort waste in their households regularly, 28 percent occasionally and four percent do not sort it at all, according to a poll released by the STEM/MARK agency.

There are no big differences between various age categories in their approach to waste sorting, but people's willingness to sort waste rises with their level of education, the poll showed.

Most of those who sort waste consider it correct and environment-friendly. Some also realise the financial aspect of the process as sorting spares space in waste bins from which the collection of waste is a paid service.

Those who do not sort waste say they are sure that even separated wastes finally end up together. Some say sorting of waste is too laborious or that they do not have enough space at home to keep different types of waste separately.

Those questioned said paper, plastic materials and glass are the easiest to sort. Out of them, 95 percent said they sort glass sometimes at least, while 96 percent and 98 percent sort paper and plastic materials, respectively.

As far as gable top cartons are concerned, 14 percent of the respondents, mainly young people, said they do not keep them separately.

Over 70 percent of Czechs sort out medicines, metals, electric appliances, batteries and accumulators now and then, and 60 percent sort out glues, paints and motor oils, the poll showed.

People's access to sorting bio waste is the worst of all. Out of those polled, 42 percent do not sort it at all.

People's ability and willingness to sort bio waste declines along with the rising number of their home town's inhabitants.

STEM/MARK conducted the poll on 515 respondents.