A HARDCORE of Tandridge residents are refusing to get involved in the district's green revolution.
And it seems that one of the main reasons residents are not recycling as much as they could is that they feel their neighbours are skimping on their recycling too.
The first major survey on the district's new comprehensive recycling revamp suggests that it has got off to a flying start.
But not everyone is convinced, it seems.
Under the new system, which started last October, food waste is collected every week and general refuse or mixed recycling is picked up on alternate weeks.
The number of rubbish bags collected has dwindled by half, and much less material is being dumped in landfill.
And the district's recycling rate has doubled from a mere 33 per cent last year, which was then the lowest of Surrey's 11 districts. But in a survey of 300 residents, while 93 per cent said they used the recycling service, around half of respondents said they recycled only "sometimes".
Jeremy Pursehouse, councillor for Warlingham East, explained: "Although the feedback is very encouraging, I've had to defend the service from some residents who have got the wrong end of the stick from rumours flying around.
"People have told me 'I've heard the recycling just goes straight to landfill, so why should I bother?'
"And 'why should I separate my food waste when it all goes into the same container as the recycling on the lorry?'. Both these claims are false."
Reasons given for not recycling included it being too easy to throw stuff away and "my own efforts will not make any difference".
Peer pressure would encourage more people to do more food recycling, said the survey, with residents saying if neighbours recycled more, they would too.
Chaldon district councillor Pat Cannon remained positive: "The overall response has been tremendous. We should consider having a recycling truck at fetes and community events so people can see for themselves how our recycling system works."
Ian Jarvis from the district's waste contractors Biffa, added: "Changes are not always popular with residents. In the early stages some problems were encountered but these are brilliant figures which we should be proud of."
