The younger generation known as Gen Z is the worst at recycling, a new poll has found.
Older generations, known as Boomers, are the ones who recycle the most and do it correctly.
The poll of 2,000 adults by packaging company DS Smith revealed it's the youngest adult generation who are the most likely to bin than recycle, despite the perception they're the most eco-conscious.
Gen Z (19%) were the lowest generation who recycle all their paper and cardboard with Boomers (54%) coming out on top.
The data shows that almost all (92%) of Gen Z admitted to throwing something in the bin instead of recycling it because they couldn’t be bothered to clean it out.
One 18-year-old DCU student told Henry McKean for The Hard Shoulder why she doesn't recycle.
"It's just something I don't think about," she said. "It's not top of my priorities but it probably should be.
"Most of the time we take it out and put it back in the correct one."
She said she doesn't think people are looking at the big picture for the planet.
"I just think people won't see it until it happens, to be honest, when it comes to the worst," she said.
Asked if she believed the world would end on her watch or her grandchildren's, she said: "Grandkids - or it's possible it could be either.
"It just depends if people put in the effort to recycle and do things for the environment I suppose".
She added that her parents are "very environmentally friendly" when it comes to recycling.
Cardboard recycling in a waste collection centre, 4-9-08. Image: BSIP SA / AlamyAnother young woman told Henry she is very conscious about her waste.
"I work in a place and we're all about recycling - so we'll wash out our bin bags and re-use our bin bags," she said.
"With cream cartons and all we'll wash them out and then sometimes we use them as decorations to try and re-use them".
'There is a disconnect'
Dr Joanne Rourke from MyWaste says people can be rushed and distracted.
"I think everybody understands the importance of recycling and I think we have the best of intentions," she said.
"But there is a disconnect between our good intentions and our actions sometimes.
"I think younger people are just busy - lives are very busy, maybe they're rushed - people with small children [have] lots of other things on their mind.
"At that crucial moment of decision - when you're standing in front of a bin with something in your hand wondering where to put it - they're just thinking about something else."
Dr Rourke says a new campaign is aiming to increase awareness around separating waste.
"What we're trying to do with this campaign - our 'Take a minute before you bin it' campaign - is to just ask people to take a pause, think about where the item they want to recycle should go and put it in the right bin," she said.
EPA research suggests that almost two-thirds of waste in general household bins could be recycled.
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