{"id":8333,"date":"2019-07-30T21:00:08","date_gmt":"2019-07-31T04:00:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/routeware.com\/blog\/the-essential-guide-to-modernizing-your-waste-program\/"},"modified":"2025-05-06T11:09:55","modified_gmt":"2025-05-06T18:09:55","slug":"the-essential-guide-to-modernizing-your-waste-program","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/routeware.com\/en_gb\/blog\/the-essential-guide-to-modernizing-your-waste-program\/","title":{"rendered":"The Essential Guide to Modernizing Your Waste Program"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rushed for time? Download this Guide<\/strong><\/a> and read at your own pace.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Introduction<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Hey there, recycling pro!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Breathing fresh life into your community\u2019s recycling program is what you were hired to do, and you\u2019re up to the challenge. Long ago, you committed to recycling yourself.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Heck, you were just a kid!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Truth is, you probably reduce and reuse more than you recycle. And you\u2019re always looking for new ways to inspire the people around you to recycle more and recycle right. After all, it\u2019s not just tossing stuff into the recycling bin that counts \u2013 it\u2019s when we do it, how we do it, how often we do it, and what we toss into the bin that makes a difference in the health of our planet year in, year out.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

You\u2019re all in, ready to help your community change behaviors and make a long-term commitment to recycling. You\u2019re ready to use digital tools to improve your programming efforts, but your true love is connecting with people.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Where to begin? So glad you\u2019re here.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The thing is, recycling is pretty simple \u2013 except when it\u2019s not. There can be a lot to remember for residents who are busy living their lives. You get it. That\u2019s why you want to spend as much time as you can out in your community, smiling into the faces of the residents in your flock and helping them do the right thing. Unless you\u2019re lucky enough to have an endless budget–it\u2019s okay, you can laugh\u2014it can be hard to juggle one-to-many communications, which are super important, with one-on-one communications, which are extra valuable yet so much more time and resource-intensive.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Of course, there\u2019s a better way to educate using a mix of digital and hand-to-hand techniques to help you get the recycling results you need. (Gotta work those metrics and show those gains!)<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

This guide can help. It was curated with expertise from a panel of the best, brightest and most digitally savvy recycling experts in North America. Use it for inspiration. Take it to your leaders as legit research to back up your own, modern ideas. But most of all, keep it handy for when the going gets tough, as all change-makers know it can. You\u2019re not alone. Together we\u2019re making a difference, one recycling cart at a time.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Let\u2019s jump in.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

I. Just the Facts, Ma\u2019am<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

No time to read? Here\u2019s a digest version! Consume these tips in five minutes or less. (For real, we counted!)Evaluate & compare: Aim to collect 400-600 pounds of material per year, per household, to match high-performing programs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Confirm first<\/strong>: Confirm what\u2019s recyclable with your MRF in light of international market changes.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Be clear & concise<\/strong>: Use phrases and bullets, eliminate repetition and stay consistent.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Rebrand an old event<\/strong>: Just changing the name of a collection event could lead to 3X more diversion!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Completely normal<\/strong>: Cast recycling as a social norm in your communications and watch tonnage rise by as much as 25 percent.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Stop the negativity<\/strong>: Don\u2019t focus too much on what not to do in recycling. It could actually encourage bad behavior!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Harness wish-cyclers<\/strong>: Get your most enthusiastic but sometimes error-making recyclers on board with nitty-gritty messages that satisfy their desire for details.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Use the 1-5-50 rule<\/strong>: One thought only can be communicated successfully via broad media. Five things will be heard in a group setting. More than 50 ideas need to live in a searchable database.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Hone with data<\/strong>: Use the search information your residents provide via online tools and apps to guide future messaging.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Go mini<\/strong>: Launch a short-lived, extra-focused campaign to get the word out on a single tough issue.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Focus on the cart:<\/strong> Adding recycling information\u2014or at least a URL\u2014to the receptacle gives residents access to info right when they need it most.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Use video<\/strong>: Telling stories with video enables you to grow a grassroots community of recyclers so you\u2019re not the only one spreading the good word.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Save time & money<\/strong>: Use digital waste and recycling communication tools<\/strong><\/a>, such as ReCollect to reduce call volumes, brand your program and delight people.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Have fun<\/strong>: Get together once a year with your recycling community to celebrate and share.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Look ahead<\/strong>: Use a recycling pledge to encourage residents to recycle more\u2014and check-in to make sure they\u2019re keeping their promises!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

II. The Rest of the Story<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

You stuck around! Now we\u2019re blushing. Here\u2019s the research behind the quick tips from Section I.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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1. Evaluate and Compare<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Getting a handle on your recycling program\u2019s current performance\u2014 and how much you can expect to improve\u2014is a great way to start making positive changes. High-performing programs collect about 400-600 pounds of material per household, per year.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

How does your program stack up against others like it? Check out these stats from The Recycling Partnership\u2019s website to gauge your current level of success:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n