Nearly 60% of Budapest residents separate waste

Nearly 60% of Budapest residents take their separated domestic waste to a nearby waste "collector island" (gyűjtősziget) at least once a week, according to a recent poll by Studio Metropolitana Urban Research Center ( Studio Metropolitana Urbanisztikai Kutató Központ).

This year's study was the third conducted at the request of the Budapest Mayor's Office, and results show that the number of residents who collect waste selectively is growing. Two years ago, only 30% of those asked said they visited a "collector island" at least once a week, while this number was 45% last year.

The answers given by respondents show that many residents collect paper, plastic and glass selectively, but a smaller number take metal containers to "collector islands," and even less residents dispose of used batteries and computers safely.

Many people would like more information about what type of plastic waste can be deposited at collection points and the methods of waste recycling, so that they can follow the rules of selective waste collection more closely.

According to most respondents, the main obstacle of selective waste collection is limited storage space for the different types of waste in homes. There is a "collector island" in the vicinity of 80% of those polled.

The sample of 300 people was taken according to the variety of homes in the city. Around one third of Budapesters live in Socialist-style housing estates, with one-third in old districts and one-third in houses. Residents were polled by phone.

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