Most Effective Signage Prompts

I don't have any hard stats to prove it, but my experience with attempting to elicit the right behavior and reduce contaminationat events, meetings, and parties has taught me to rely more heavily on graphics than wording. I often use both, but clear and colorful graphics (usually icons of the desired materials) that the spectator will "get" immediately with the briefest glance seem to be the most foolproof.

Pamela Williams
Boise Public Works
United States

Hi Remi,

I agree with Pamela, and I would add a few related facts.

--40% of Canadians do not have the literacy skills required to read a Material Safety Data Sheet--the sort of thing required for safe use of things like janitorial chemicals.

--in the Lower Mainland, over 50% of the population does not have English as a first language.

--Imagine traffic signs. You don't see a lot of signs that say Turn Right, you see an arrow curving to the right.

Metro Vancouver is developing a full suite of icons, photos, signage and graphical booklets. Check out our new resource page at http://www.metrovancouver.org/services/solidwaste/Pages/Resources.aspx

We will be updating with new signage and other tools over the next few months. All of these resources are free for anyone to download.


Ruben Anderson
Communications Specialist
Metro Vancouver
Canada

In further support of Pamela's comments, yesterday we hosted a lo-waste holiday party and went to great lengths to provide compostable serviceware as well as several well-labeled collection bins. The compost label was mostly graphical, showing pictures of food, napkins, and plates. But, because it did not also show cutlery (which was also compostable) many people tossed the forks and knives into the recycling or trash instead.

So, to capture the most materials possible, use graphics and include images of all the key items you want to collect. This may require tailoring icons to the event.

Note that in our party announcement we asked people to bring their own mug or drinking glass, and we did not provide any cups at the event. This is our effort to keep materials from the waste stream in the first place.

Jenny Harvey
Program Coordinator for Sustainability
Harvard Real Estate Services
United States

Remi,
There is a good company - Green Hands - www.almetek.com/envorinmnet.html

We used them because I had posted labels and people kept tearing them down. I think because they were perceived as a "Natural Resource Dept." message. Green Hands can put your City or University logo on the label. They have different categories - energy, recycling etc. The beauty of using them was after we had the "City" logo on the message they didn't get ripped off.

Rosemarie Russo

Dr Rosemarie  Russo
Sustainability Coordinator
City of Fort Collins
United States

Thank you all for your responses. I have compiled all of your feedback for reference for the executive members of our team who have been haveing an ongoing debate on this issue. Your input has been valuable in the process of this debate. I am confident that our decision will now better reflect some of the experience and research coming from the field of sustainability education, outreach and engagement. I am very grateful for your participation! Let me know if you have any questions related to sustainability education, outreach and engagement. I have a lot of great information in this area and would be delighted to share it with you. Thanks again!

Best Regards,

Remi

Remi Charron
Sustainability Projects (Student) Intern
Office of Sustainability - University of Alberta
Canada