The United Kingdom has been looking for any way possible to raise recycling rates and cut down the amount of waste they send to landfills. Studies have shown that there are various successful ways to get people to change their behavior. Although we like to think of ourselves as smart and good people the fact of the matter is that most people will not do anything that does not directly relate to them. This is why incentive programs, both positive and negative, have been effective ways to get people to adopt greener behavior. Some councils have given residents vouchers which they can turn in at local retailers when they recycle at high rates while other councils have taken the opposite approach and punished those who fail to do their part.
A recent scheme launched in the United Kingdom has thus far been met with mixed feelings and results. The scheme, which involves what are known as feed in tariffs, looks to reward those eco friendly households which have installed alternative energy sources on their property, including things like solar panels and small wind turbines. Households who install these small devices will receive cash back on their electricity bills. Critics of the plan say that while the idea is a good one it is not generous enough, as these forms of energy are often very expensive to install and maintain, making them unrealistic for many households.
Environmental groups are attacking the plan as not offering enough incentive to really get people motivated to make these changes.
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