Repak is to launch its largest ever nationwide Recycling Knowledge Audit, which will test the country's understanding of recycling best practices and expose common misunderstandings among the public.
The announcement marks World Environment Day and comes after recent research commissioned by Repak found that Ireland has a significant knowledge gap in knowing what and what does not go into their recycling bin.
The research found that despite having good intentions when it comes to recycling, there is a concerning gap in the recycling knowledge.
Although 88% of people stated that they are confident in their recycling abilities, only 52% were correctly able to identify what can go in the recycling bin when asked, Repak noted.
Repak, in collaboration with a third-party research provider, said it will quiz 2,000 Irish people on their recycling knowledge as part of the nationwide audit this summer.
The data collected from this audit will be used to develop a public information campaign to support the nation to become a country of recycling experts and promote responsible recycling practices.
Repak said that even the smallest of mistakes can have detrimental effects on the environment but its research has shown that 41% of consumers believe that minor recycling errors do not have an impact on the overall recycling process.
Repak is encouraging consumers and businesses to separate all packaging into the correct bin, making sure it is clean, dry, and loose.
Zoë Kavanagh, CEO of Repak, said its new initiative aims to gain a clear understanding of the current recycling aptitude among Irish residents.
"By identifying where we, as a nation, are falling short in recycling best practices, we can implement better habits to become more environmentally conscious in our daily lives," she said.
Ms Kavanagh said the audit will help tackle misconceptions directly and add significant value to Ireland's journey towards improved recycling standards in the future.
"Every individual's action counts when it comes to meeting Ireland's EU recycling targets, no matter how big or small. We encourage everyone to take the time to ensure we are correctly segregating our waste - clean, dry, and loose - to contribute to a greener Ireland," she added.
