RESIDENTS want to cut down on waste and do more recycling – and are urging manufacturers to cut down on packaging. This views come in a comprehensive survey published today (Friday) by the Hertfordshire Waste Partnership. The partnership set out to seek

RESIDENTS want to cut down on waste and do more recycling - and are urging manufacturers to cut down on packaging.

This views come in a comprehensive survey published today (Friday) by the Hertfordshire Waste Partnership.

The partnership set out to seek views on the ways of reducing waste, increasing recycling and methods of dealing with remaining waste.

Partnership chairman Cllr Derrick Ashley said: "It's abundantly clear that most residents support our aims to reduce waste and recycle more.

"This is an encouraging result," he said.

The partnership comprises of Hertfordshire County Council and all 10 district councils - including North Herts District Council.

North Herts is due to introduce in October every-two-weeks bin collections along with new recycling plans.

The survey showed that 98 per cent of people supported the amount of waste produced - and 70 per cent said at least half of the waste should be recycled by 2012.

Other responses showed:

* 98 per cent for getting manufacturers and retailers to reduce the amount of non-recyclable packinging.

* 84 per cent for using more publicity to help encourage waste reduction

* 86 per cent for promoting home composting

* 80 per cent for using real nappies rather than disposables

* 94 per cent for examining the potential of turning waste into energy.

The survey revealed, too, that there was strong support for compulsory recycling (82 per cent), but less people who believed on being charged according to amount of rubbish they produced.

The results of the survey will be used to help create an updated waste strategy which is expected to be approved in the autumn.