Lisa Heigh Senior solid waste planner Metro Value added:

Today’s discussion HHW Program Who is our Audience? HHW Techs as educators Program elements So what?

History of Metro’s program Two permanent facilities Eight years of ~ 60 days of neighborhood events ~55,000 customers

HHW all Customers

HHW customers Geographic Distribution

The Customer as Audience 36/54 percent split female /male

The Customer as Audience 43 % First time customers 33 % Repeat users within the last 3 years ~ 30 % of repeat users come 1-2 times year

The Customer as Audience 80% Garden or work in the lawn 52% Believe that insecticides and herbicides are toxic 15% Do not use chemicals

The Customer as Audience Would information about a products toxic level keep you from buying and using it? 60% Yes; 15% No; 24% Depends About risks to your family’s health? 77% Yes; 13% No, 11% Depends

History of on-site HHW event Waste Reduction Education Round-ups

Steps to change Motivated to change Provide logistical information Use community groups to motivate Aware, concerned, knowledgeable Identify perceived barriers and benefits Unaware Raise awarenessRecommend a solution

Steps to change Sustains new behavior Social support; assure them of ability to sustain behavior Tries new behavior Provide information on ‘correct’ behavior Reduce barriers through problem solving

HHW technicians –additional role

Do you like to talk to customers about waste issues, hazardous products and alternative? Do you like the idea of expanding your role to include providing more education and information to customers?

HHW Technician – another role What do customers ask you about ? What do we do with all this waste? Recycled Paint Electronic Waste Gardening/pesticides & household cleaners

HHW Technicians – additional role What subjects would you like more information and training? Natural Gardening Pesticide Alternatives Child and human health issues Electronic Waste PBTs

Winter Trainings How would you like to receive new information? Formal Presentation (11) Training that involves hands-on (10) Reading written materials (5) A combination of the above (3)

About teaching & behavior change Foundation information about behavior change; teaching, how we learn and activity on ‘teaching on the fly’ and role-play activity.

About impacts Foundation information about pesticide impacts on (water quality/fish) and impacts of toxics on humans, special emphasis on children and child development

About electronics Electronics’ national and state policy issues; the “how to” of computer deconstruction (and rebuild); and the electronics recycling industry (impacts to China).

History and science of soap/detergents and the alternatives; and green cleaner lab activity. About alternatives

About the garden and lawn Introduction to natural gardening (pests, pesticides and alternatives)and soils; lawn care and the ecology of the lawn; soils and lawn care review, and native plants and plant care.

Brochures and banner signs

Round ups

Living Display

Prompts and give-a-ways

So What?