WM3 user survey for Natural Resources Wales

Challenge

WM3 is the official guidance on waste classification and assessment in the UK.
Despite being one of the most downloaded documents on the regulatory websites, there is a knowledge gap in terms of who actually uses WM3, how different users apply the guidance, the issues people encounter, and how the guidance could be improved.
The goal was to gather a robust evidence base to plug these knowledge gaps and provide informed recommendations on how WM3 should be updated to meet the needs of different user groups.

Solution

SLR was selected for the project following our success in managing Wales’ national waste surveys of the Industrial & Commercial and Construction & Demolition sectors.
For WM3, SLR designed and delivered a UK wide survey on waste classification & assessment practices and user needs in terms of guidance. The survey incorporated telephone interviews and an online questionnaire.
Themes identified in the survey were explored in a further 20 follow-up interviews, and recommendations were made with regard to how WM3 should be updated to meet the needs of different user groups.

Impact

The final dataset included 523 valid survey responses, which exceeded the target by over 16%. The hybrid recruitment approach delivered high levels of participation across the sample frame, whilst providing an opportunity for interested stakeholders to participate via provision of an online questionnaire.
The results give insight into the levels of awareness and understanding amongst users, the different approaches taken, challenges faced, and potential opportunities for improvement.
The project deliverables provide a comprehensive body of evidence to inform any future updates to WM3 and any future guidance on waste classification and assessment.