Nothing conjures up images of in-home interactions\u00a0than the family refrigerator covered in notes, artwork, educational information, and magnets.<\/p>\n
Letter magnets, poetry magnets, insurance broker magnets… recycling magnets<\/a>. Yes, it used to be a common practice for waste management operations to pass along consumer recycling education<\/a> through magnets.<\/p>\n In theory, magnets that promote recycling make a lot of sense.\u00a0The fridge is a high-traffic appliance, seen by many people during the day. The kitchen is also the place where a lot of waste diversion activities take place: opening packaging, preparing food, and disposing\u00a0items.<\/p>\n Fridge magnets clearly support community-based social marketing tactics like prompts<\/a> and communication.<\/p>\n But there is a major drawback to magnets.<\/p>\n Thanks to HGTV, DIY and countless home decor shows, more and more\u00a0people are using stainless steel fridges. One retailer even indicates<\/a> that “95% of its sales are in stainless.”<\/p>\n But,\u00a0magnets don’t adhere\u00a0to stainless steel.<\/p>\n And placing the magnet on the side of the fridge kind of defeats the purpose of it being “front and centre.”\u00a0Even the supposed future\u00a0trends for kitchens<\/a> (fridges with panels that match cabinetry or glass-front fridges), aren’t going to help make magnets more usable. So, can you recycle magnets? And how can you educate customers now?<\/p>\n One alternative that some municipalities are starting to use is static cling or low-tack decals.<\/p>\n Made from a soft vinyl or plastic, static cling decals adhere to smooth surfaces, usually lasting one to two years before the “cling” wears off.<\/p>\n Low-tack decals use a very light glue and can be easily removed from most surfaces. As a result, they tend to last longer than the static cling option.<\/p>\n Another benefit of static cling or low-tack decals is that they can be lighter than some magnets, and therefore less costly to mail to residents.<\/p>\n Does your municipality use recycling magnets, static cling, or low-tack decals?<\/p>\n