DOHA: Many called for enhancement of recycling facilities in Qatar, during the first eSurvey by Qatar Green Building Council (QGBC) investigating attitudes to sustainable living.
The study also focused on the use of energy and water resources. More than 1,600 residents and expatriates took part. Respondents demonstrated keenness to live sustainably with 90 percent showing interest in environmental issues, and 51 percent being aware of the productive work of QGBC, a member of Qatar Foundation (QF).
Residents voiced support for recycling in the pursuit of establishing greener communities and neighbourhoods.
Nearly 90 percent of them believed that their biggest motivator to recycle is their care and concern for the environment.
Paper and plastics are cited as the most recycled materials. However, initial analysis suggests that providing accessible recycling facilities would reduce waste further, as about two in every three (65 percent) said they lacked access to convenient facilities.
Only six percent of household respondents have recycling facilities at homes, leading to a considerable amount of waste being dumped into landfills.
Five in 10 respondents agreed that facilities — direct collection of waste from homes or recycling facilities within walking distance would considerably improve waste generation.
Initial analysis of the results indicate major opportunities for residents to improve energy efficiency at home by tackling inefficient use of washing machines, ACs and other electrical appliances that contribute to high energy consumption.
Nine in 10 residents use a washing machine yet, on average, over 50 percent of the washes are only half full or less.
Only two in three (65 percent) always turn off ACs when leaving home, with only one in 25 using the timer, suggesting that the situation could be improved greatly through education or introducing user-friendly technologies.
Half of respondents said they switch the TV to high-energy standby mode rather than turning power at the switch when no longer watching.
The data, being analysed in depth by QGBC staff and expert volunteers attached to its active sustainability interest groups, also reveals that a significant amount of water is wasted at homes with a corresponding cost attached to the scarce resource.
The Peninsula
