We are looking into the pros and cons of using "gold star" stickers (or something similar) to attach to people's Green Cans or Blue boxes to "reward" good recycling behaviour (along with another incentive such as winning a kitchen container). Hopefully, with the stickers being visible to the rest of the community, this will help promote social diffusion to encourage neighbours to recycle and use their Green Can.
Does anyone have examples of how such schemes have been successful (or otherwise?).
Rachael Jones
Waste Reduction and Recycling Assistant
Canada
Encouraging Green Can Use
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Hi Rachael,
Hamilton has such a program. http://www.hamilton.ca/CityServices/Garbage-and-Recycling/Blue-boxes-recycling/Win-a-gold-box.htm. I don't know if they have any performance measures though.
I suggest that the presence of a sticker is not going to encourage people to recycle or use their blue box and green can more than the container already does. The container itself already creates a social norm.
I think that the main benefit of a program like the one you describe is that it encourages some people to look more carefully at what they are putting in their recycling streams and to prepare it correctly. That has the potential to increase capture rates and reduce contamination, and that is a good thing.
Cheers,
Ken
Ken Donnelly
Vice President, Atlantic Canada
Lura Consulting
Canada
www.beyondattitude.com
You can check out www.mygoldbox.ca for more information on our reward and recognition program.
If you would like to discuss the details, you can give me a call. 905 546 2424 ext 5523
Kathryn Holloway
Technical Analyst
City of Hamilton
Canada