More than 40 per cent of households in west Cork burn at least some of their rubbish - even though this is illegal - and a third admitted to burning more since weight-based charges for waste were imposed in 2003.
A survey of 1,200 households in the Clonakilty area, carried out by Sue Scott and Dorothy Watson of the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), also found that the total volume of waste collected fell by 45 per cent.
"The results showed that the pay-by-weight scheme had a strong impact on behaviour, leading to a marked reduction in the amount of waste produced," they said. "The average reduction per household following the new charges was 433kg per year."
Previously, a flat annual rate had been charged "so that putting out an extra kg of waste incurred zero cost". The new scheme, based on weight rather than volume, meant that for every extra kilogram of waste left out the price was €0.23.
The standing charge for waste collection in 2002 had been €190 for the standard bin. With the introduction of weight-based charges, the standing charge was cut to a single rate of €160, regardless of the number and size of bins.
Over 20 per cent of households started recycling after the new scheme began. Nearly half had been recycling before and more than two-thirds wanted to recycle more. Households that composted organic waste achieved the most impressive reductions.
"A surprising 42 per cent of households said they burnt at least some of their rubbish, and a third said that they burnt more after the new charges were introduced," the ESRI report said. "It seems that they may not have been aware that domestic burning is illegal."
However, there was "no strong indication" that fly-tipping had increased, according to the survey, although it found that some 10 per cent of households thought that the incidence of other people putting waste in their bins without permission had increased.
Its principal conclusion was that people "respond significantly" to price. "Smaller households generate more waste per person. Given the trend towards decreasing household size, this has implications for the future," the ESRI researchers said.
A 10 per cent rise in the charge would result in an estimated 2.7 per cent drop in weight of waste, it found. This is in line with findings in other countries such as the US, Denmark and the Netherlands, where weight-based charges were introduced.
Attitudes to the new scheme in west Cork were on balance positive, and nearly two-thirds thought it was fair, even though recycling their rubbish did mean that the "mess and bother of waste disposal" had increased for 47 per cent of households.
"Along with the plastic bag tax, this scheme represents a success with applying the polluter pays principle in Ireland," the researchers found.
"They point the way to addressing other pressing environmental problems, such as greenhouse gas emissions."
