The Township of Langley is starting an extensive recycling pilot in hopes of increasing participation and sorting rates, and decreasing contamination levels. We have a 3 stream program whereby newspaper is sorted using a bag, mixed paper (including cardboard) is placed into a different bag and containers are put into a blue box.
We are now in the process of creating different communication materials, prompts, and promotional ideas which will be tested using a Focus Group to obatin the best results. We would like to go door to door however, this approach is not realistic for the amount of staff we have nor for long term success of the program.
Does anybody have any ideas for prompts or communication materials that are different than what we have tried for the last 5 years (newspaper adds, sorting it out flyer, tagging)?
We have over 25,000 residents and there is equal demographics of young and older residents.
Tess White
Township of Langley
Canada
Prompts or Communication Materials to increase Sorting & Decrease Contamination
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The City of St. John's began collecting curbside recyclables (2 stream) in October 2010. We had a comprehensive media campaign (print, radio, web, out of home & some tv) for the month prior to the first pick-up and the month following. We plan for three more media blitz's in the new year in February, April/May and in the fall.
Aside from traditional media we have had the most positive response from three items in particular:
1) A Recycling Starter Kit that we sent to residents homes that included a booklet detailing the curbside recycling program as well as other waste management services offered by the city.
2) A fridge magnet & brochure that lists the most common household items to recycle, as well as what to continue to put in with garbage.
3) Sample packs of 4 free see-through blue bags, as our program requires that recyclables be put in blue bags.
We've done a number of visits to community groups & centres, schools, and interested businesses/institutions to educate them about the recycling program - specifically what is and isn't recyclable.
In my experience this is the main thing that people want to know: what can I recycle and when can I put it to my curb for pick-up. Then you give them an easy to read/understand brochure and a free pack of blue bags - they are all set and excited to start.
We do have two staff to conduct door to door visits (among other work duties) and though the door to door does give positive results it does take a lot of time to complete properly.
Shelley Pardy
Waste Diversion Communications Supervisor
City of St. John's
Canada
http://www.stjohns.ca/cityservices/environment/wastediversion.jsp
Door to door has been somewhat effective for us. We don't have staff for it either, but I encourage you to do what we have done and find community or neighborhood organizations to partner with. The draw for them is that it can be a fundraiser, as you can pay the organization something for getting the volunteers lined up and conducting the outreach. Your staff will just have to write the script and hold training sessions, and let the volunteer power and enthusiasm to better the community do the rest. I know this overly simplifies it, but we have worked through the process to conduct this kind of personal social marketing campaign 3-4 times over the past several years.
Rick Meyers
Recycling Specialist
City of Milwaukee
United States