Waikato locals are becoming increasingly concerned about the state of the environment and are taking more personal action to protect it.

This was one of the key findings from the latest ‘Your Environment – what matters?' survey of 1250 residents undertaken by Waikato Regional Council earlier this year.

The ‘Your Environment – what matters?' 2016 survey found 77 per cent of respondents were recycling, which was up 13 per cent since the last survey carried out in 2013. Image: File

A report on the survey provided to council's Strategy and Policy committee today shows there is now a higher level of concern about the long-term impacts of issues like global warming, urban sprawl, population increases, land use, and over consumption since the last survey in 2013.

This year 36 per of people surveyed believed those issues are becoming a ‘significant environmental concern', compared to the 10 per cent in the 2013 survey.

Social and economic science manager Ruth Buckingham, who authored the report, says this elevated level of concern for the future was reflected in the way people were doing more to protect the environment.

'Residents in the Waikato region are demonstrating an increased awareness of how society will affect the environment in the longer term,” says Ruth, 'with residents starting to change their behaviour to reflect more sustainable practices in their homes.”

Asked what actions they had taken recently to protect the environment:

• 77 per cent recycled – up 13 per cent since 2013
• 16 per cent reduced their rubbish or waste – up 13 per cent
• 20 per cent picked up litter – up 13 per cent
• 19 per cent planted trees – up 3 per cent
• 18 per cent used a compost heap for garden waste - up 5 per cent
• 18 per cent saved water – up 3 per cent.

While just over nine out of 10 people were satisfied or very satisfied with their local environment, the report noted the vast majority (91 per cent) wanted council to enforce rules and laws to make sure the environment is well looked after.

Water quality continues to be the most important environmental concern identified (59 per cent of respondents) and was also identified as the key issue that will be the most important in five years' time.