Effective communication yields successful programming, and it is all about making real connections with the people you serve \u2014 no matter their age, the language they speak, or the place they call home.<\/p>\n
Using <\/span>waste education strategies for r<\/span>eaching and engaging with all demographics in your area, especially the people who may be harder to reach, is not only critical for the success of your programs; it\u2019s the right thing to do. So how do you do it? From overcoming language barriers to leaning on customer education tools<\/a> from Routeware, here are some waste management education tips to keep in mind and get you started.<\/p>\n Consider the demographics of the people you serve, and continuously adapt your communication approaches to reach them. For example, three demographics that may require a little more effort to connect with include those who speak English as a second language (or not at all), senior citizens who do not always use or have access to technology, and temporary residents such as tenants and travelers.<\/p>\n These three demographics make up a good portion of our communities, and we want to be sure they do not miss our waste management education and outreach efforts. As the people we serve change, so, too, must our waste education strategies and program offerings.<\/p>\n Once you understand the makeup of your community, prepare to meet them where they are. The next waste management education tip is to consider how the people you serve wish to receive and digest information and adapt your efforts accordingly.<\/p>\n Once you have a handle on your community\u2019s demographics and some strategies to create inclusive communications, tap into your resources.<\/p>\n For instance, pizza boxes may be discarded into recycling, compost, or trash, depending on your location and regulations. Using a tool such as the Waste Wizard<\/a>, you can help people self-serve to find the disposal information they need, no matter where they are.<\/p>\n In Avon, Colorado,\u00a0Walking Mountains Science Center<\/a> Sustainability Programs Manager\u00a0Nina Waysdorf\u00a0says the area features some 55,000 full-time residents, plus a \u201chuge\u201d transient group of seasonal tenants and tourists from all over the world. Additionally, approximately 25% of the population there speaks Spanish.<\/p>\n From presentations, zero-waste events, social media posts, and beyond, Waysdorf says she and her team work hard to create inclusive programming. Recycling tours and materials are offered in Spanish, and translations are not only technically accurate, but also culturally relevant to their community, she says.<\/p>\n While there is no feasible way to translate waste and recycling information to every language spoken in the county, Waysdorf says they have found that pictures are an invaluable tool to reach people, no matter the language they speak.<\/p>\n Overall, Waysdorf says that tapping into all forms of communication can yield a higher chance of finding something that resonates with the community.<\/p>\n Are you struggling to engage your waste education strategies with harder-to-reach demographics in your area?<\/p>\n Get Started<\/a> by visiting Routeware City, an interactive experience that allows you to see how our tools can help engage your community, reduce contamination, and help your residents self-serve.<\/p>\n Test it out today! Visit Routeware City1. Assess Current Waste Education Strategies<\/h2>\n
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\n50% of U.S. residents are classified as \u201cmulticultural.\u201d Meet the needs of the people in your community, no matter their background, by rethinking waste management strategies and language to be relevant, inclusive, and culturally competent.<\/li>\n
\nAs time passes, the people we work with are not only becoming more diverse, but they\u2019re aging, too. Today, 16% of the U.S. population is 65 or older, which is 1 in every 7 Americans. This creates demand for waste management education strategies to be communicated clearly to an aging population.<\/li>\n
\nToday, we are more mobile and environmentally conscious than ever before. In fact, 43 million people in the U.S. who travel consider themselves to be \u201cecologically concerned.\u201d This means that they recycle at home and want to continue their efforts when they\u2019re traveling, too.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n2. Adopt A New Waste Management Education<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\n<\/strong>Learn more about common languages in your area. Does your organization offer translation services? If so, what solid waste education and promotional collateral do you translate? At Routeware, our digital communication tools include 15 languages: English, French, Spanish, Korean, Khmer, Simplified Chinese, Haitian Creole, Hungarian, Japanese, Portuguese, Punjabi, German, Czech, Russian, and Vietnamese. Users simply select their preferred language, and the tools remember that selection. Our waste management app<\/a> automatically detects the preferred language, so it\u2019s completely seamless.<\/li>\n
\nTo reach the older or aging people in your community, keep it simple. Make it easy for people to receive and understand the waste education strategies and information they need. This might look like providing reminders by phone as well as email and text, and allowing digital collection calendars to be printed so folks may hang them up for reference. (Our data shows that senior citizens definitely adopt our digital tools, so don\u2019t assume that they won\u2019t!)<\/li>\n
\nFor instance, we are annually audited by a third-party organization to confirm our compliance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG AA 2.1) with our web tools and mobile app.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n3. Formulate Your Waste Management Education Outreach And Engagement Plan<\/h2>\n
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4. Be Flexible And Make Your Strategy Happen<\/h2>\n
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