1. TALKING RECYCLING
5 tips for engaging the public to boost the quantity and quality of recovered materials

2. WE’RE THE RECYCLING PARTNERSHIP
501(c)3 organization dedicated to transforming recycling in towns all across America
Our Funding Partners

3. FRONT LINE STAFF RESIDENTS RESIDENTS HAULER / DECISION MAKERS MRF
Who Is Your Audience?
RESIDENTS
RESIDENTS
FRONT LINE STAFF
DECISION MAKERS
HAULER /
MRF

4. curbside carts (with education)
TIP #1
Education + Operations = Best Results
+50%
+20%
Education only: CVP historical data – about a 20% boost with a well done and well-funded campaign (and that could be much more short lived).
Cart-based curbside programs generate almost 50% more material per hh than bin based programs – bin based programs average 271 lbs/hh/year and carts 389 lbs/hh/year.
Plus, awareness/knowledge alone do not change behavior.
education only
curbside bins to
curbside carts (with education)

5. Keep It Simple TIP #2 Consistent, simple messaging works best.
ALUMINUM
Aerosol
Can
Foil or Foil-like Container
Other Aluminum Containers
CARTONS
PAPER
Cold Cups
Hard Cover Books
Hot Cups
Ice Cream Container
Junk Mail
Kraft Bags
Magazines
Newspaper
OCC
Office Paper
Paperback Books
Paperboard Boxes
Pizza Boxes
Shredded Paper
GLASS
Bottles and Jars
Drinking Glass
Mugs
Window
PLASTIC
Buckets
Bulky Plastic
EPS Foam
Flower Pots
HDPE Bottles & Jars
Non-bottle HDPE Containers & Lids
Non-bottle PET Containers & Lids
Other Containers & Packaging
Other Drink Bottles
Other Food Bottles & Jars
Other Household Bottles & Jars
Other Tubs & Lids
PET Bottles & Jars
PET Thermoform
PP Bottles
PP Containers & Lids
Produce, Deli & Bakery
Containers, Cups, Trays
STEEL
Aerosol
Can
Pots and Pans
Scrap Metal
IMAGINE A COMMON SUITE ACROSS ISLAND(S)

6. Keep It Simple TIP #2 Simple messaging takes work.
Keep it simple so people get the bullet(s)
MRF survey
Boil down
Keep it consistent – a common list across island
Keep it really simple (one bullet) for something important

7. 1 For Important Messages, Keep It REALLY Simple TIP #2
Keep it simple so people get the bullet(s)
MRF survey
Boil down
Keep it really simple (one bullet) for something important
Keep it consistent – a common list across island

8. For Critical Messages, Keep It REALLY Simple
TIP #2
For Critical Messages, Keep It REALLY Simple
Keep it really simple (one bullet) for something important
Maybe include image of adding a material from CVWMA

9. Know Your Audience Where do they go for information?
TIP #3
How? Ask them.
Know Your Audience
Where do they go for information?
What material names or terms make sense to them?
What do they already know, and are they right?
What do they like?
Know your audience
Teach the children, but also everyone else (MassDEP 2015: 79% disagree that they recycle b/c their children encourage them to)
Talk to them

10. TIP #3
Avoid assumptions.
What We Know
Teaching children is good,
but doesn’t change recycling behavior in the home by itself
79% of people disagree that they recycle b/c their children encourage them to
Teach the children, but also everyone else (MassDEP 2015: 79% disagree that they recycle b/c their children encourage them to)
Remember, adults are likely doing the recycling, and ops + ed is the key

11. HOW DO WE CHANGE BEHAVIOR? Have a Plan TIP #4
Personal touch for behavior change (ideally with all 3-1-1)
Build a culture
Stay positive overall (negative for short term as needed) 11

12. THREE KEY ELEMENTS TO BOOST PARTICIPATION AND REDUCE CONTAMINATION
3-2-1
TIP #4 3
THREE KEY ELEMENTS TO BOOST PARTICIPATION AND REDUCE CONTAMINATION
INFORM – BASIC DO’S AND DON’TS
PERSONALIZED FEEDBACK
ISSUE SPECIFIC COMMUNICATIONS
POSTCARD/MAGNET
MAILERS + MEDIA
CART TAGS

13. 2 3-2-1 TIP #4 COMPLEMENTARY RESIDENT ENGAGEMENT TOOLS
GENERAL ADVERTISING
STANDING RESOURCE
Note that tracking is important.

14. Set-Out / Participation Rate
3-2-1
TIP #4 1
MEASURE EVERYTHING
Disposal ✧
Recovery
Set-Out / Participation Rate
Contamination Rate
Recovery Rate
Resident Feedback

15. TIP #5
IT’S
NEVER DONE 15

16. It’s Never Done TIP #5 Pro Tip: Use an editorial calendar. Never done

17. and positive perception
BONUS TIP
What We Know
Convenience
and positive perception
must outweigh any barriers
Skip if running tight

18. and positive perception
BONUS TIP
Thus We Do
Convenience
and positive perception
must outweigh any barriers
Build culture with
positive feelings
Save the heavy “no”
for immediate problems
Skip if running tight

19. Open Source Tools Online
Field ready tools for you
Open Source Tools Online

20. “recycling is a part of life”
MoreBetter Program
EMOTIVE
RELATABLE
“recycling is a part of life”

21. Carts: Grants, Assistance, Resources
How-to guide and open source tools
Carts: Grants, Assistance, Resources

22. TRY THESE TOOLS, JOIN OUR NETWORK,
and let’s make recycling more & better!
RECYCLINGPARTNERSHIP.ORG
TOOLS
Online Library
Starters
BMPs
IDEAS
Webinars
Newsletters
E-Books
Forums
RESOURCES
Grants
Campaigns
Tech Assistance

23. 1 5 50 COMMUNICATING THE RIGHT THING AT THE RIGHT TIME EXTRA BONUS TIP
Bus Ad, Billboard,
AWARENESS 1
RECYCLE
“For more info...”
Postcard, Magnet, Some Ads, IML, Oops Tag
UNDERSTANDING 5
HOW TO RECYCLE MOST COMMON ITEMS
Categories of 3-5 “yes”/ 3 “no”
Simple Instruction, set out
“For more info…”
Website 50
RECYCLING FAQs
Easy to find “yes” and “no”
Non curbside: drop off, HHW, electronics, textiles, etc