Sometimes working on solid waste and recycling education and community behavior change can feel a lot like persuasion.<\/p>\n
When you understand the subtle art of making a compelling argument, you can build better campaigns and messaging, target problem areas and make a lasting impact on your community and the environment through increased program participation and compliance. Sounds good, right?<\/p>\n
The right waste communications strategy can make all the difference. Motivate your employees and engage your community with the right waste and recycling communications, at the right times, and you\u2019ll see a significant increase in initiative participation, but how do you do that?<\/p>\n
If you need a little relevant inspiration to help get you started, here are 20 fresh ways to do just that:<\/p>\n
People take environmental action for a variety of reasons. As illogical as it may sound to the waste professional, benefiting the environment isn\u2019t always one of them. According to at least one study at The Ohio University, by approaching your general argument for recycling from multiple angles<\/a><\/strong>, you\u2019re apt to motivate more individuals to take part in your program.<\/p>\n For example, speaking to the local economic benefits of recycling as well as conservation outcomes may motivate different groups. Some people may be more motivated by their neighbors\u2019 perceptions of them than any environmental benefit, but that\u2019s okay, because you can tailor some of your waste communications to address this specific point.<\/p>\n Repetition helps people remember what you\u2019ve said. It\u2019s also true that the more someone hears something, the more likely they are to believe it\u2019s factual<\/strong><\/a>. So keep your waste messages in front of your audience, and keep on repeating them.<\/p>\n Post maintenance messages three times per week about recycling plastic bags in stores (and not in your recycling bin) across social channels, and include the same information in other media such as your waste calendar and app reminders, website banners, and e-newsletters.<\/p>\n Addressing the same community member with similar messages across different platforms can be the key to turning this person into an enthusiastic recycler. Better yet, deploy a recycling communications app<\/a> to ensure they always have access to the list of approved recyclable materials, and resolve another blocker for some of your users.<\/p>\n Increase efficiency, profitability and customer satisfaction with Routeware Get Started <\/a><\/p>\n Younger audiences\u2014particularly Younger audiences\u2014particularly Gen Z, born between the mid-1990s and mid-200s\u2014have never experienced a knowledge landscape without instant research available to them via the devices in their pockets.<\/p>\n In terms of recycling, this sets the bar fairly high: Younger recyclers have heard that sometimes, materials placed into recycling bins don\u2019t get recycled, and your waste communications will need to reassure them that all recyclable materials you collect will be recycled.<\/p>\n You need to know your end markets\u2013that is, where your materials end up after they\u2019re shipped for recycling\u2013so when people ask if all the plastics collected by your program are truly recycled, you can honestly explain what happens, quell their fears, maintain trust and keep them engaged with your programs.<\/p>\n Even if it\u2019s not 100% successful in the recycling rate, knowing that the vast majority of recyclable materials are being handled as hoped will help to sway some community members who might not otherwise participate in the program.<\/p>\n Everyone knows that presenting identical messages about recycling to a group of second-graders and the members of your local chamber of commerce isn\u2019t logical, but you can take personalization a step further<\/strong><\/a> by adding relatable statistics and examples that will help listeners absorb and retain information.<\/p>\n Kids may latch onto how long it takes a juice carton to biodegrade in a landfill, while local developers might like to know how many local jobs your recycling program has created or retained.<\/p>\n Keeping your audience in mind is a must for communications of all types, but in waste communications in particular, understanding the figures that will resonate with your audience is paramount.<\/p>\n Your audience needs to know they can make a difference through recycling – otherwise, it\u2019s just another item on the to-do list. A community that understands its own great power to create change<\/strong><\/a> represent an indomitable force for good. To do it, provide practical, relatable waste statistics in print, online and when you\u2019re speaking.<\/p>\n Use a recycling education tool<\/a><\/strong>, if one is available, and if you don\u2019t have this option, it may be worth the time to consider investing in one.<\/p>\n Do your research and include quantities and items that will speak to your audience.<\/p>\n Example: If you recycle XX beverage cans per week, at the end of the year you\u2019ll have saved enough aluminum to build a XX!<\/p>\n Yep, it\u2019s time to go after the BRAINS! of your would-be recyclers. According to psychologists<\/strong><\/a>, the human brain is hardwired to seek three things: affiliation, accuracy and positive self-concept. Make your people feel like they\u2019re part of something bigger, provide accurate information, and encourage ongoing recycling with positive reinforcements, such as monthly \u201csuccess statistics\u201d on your website and social media.<\/p>\n An example of a success statistic could be a positive participation percentage, which also can make your recyclers feel as though they are part of a larger movement. Give your users some credit for successes within your waste management messages, and these figures are likely to continue growth.<\/p>\n For younger audiences, engaging online experiences<\/strong><\/a> are another key to maintaining attention and building trust. Provide real-time access to recycling information online using website tools and mobile apps<\/a><\/strong> that help people to self-serve, and become better recyclers (such as the Collection Calendar<\/strong><\/a> or Waste Wizard<\/strong><\/a> provided by ReCollect).<\/p>\n Routeware gives your customers the knowledge and ability to recycle the right materials with more frequency, reducing wishcycling while improving environmental impact Let’s Get More Material Recycled <\/a><\/p>\n The research concludes that people listen to those they like, and they like those with whom they share similarities. You can build rapport with your recycling audience<\/strong><\/a> by taking a relatable approach, framing your messages as a friendly gesture from one recycler to another.<\/p>\n You\u2019re a solid waste educator in your own right, but for this tactic to work, you\u2019ll call on the big guns. Point to statistics and conclusions from well-known, reputable sources<\/a> who agree with you on the importance of recycling often and recycling right.<\/p>\n Think Environmental Protection Agency, The Recycling Partnership and National Resources Defense Council. Household names will hold a lot more sway when cited in waste communications.<\/p>\n The Recycling Partnership\u2019s guidance<\/a> for matching the message to the medium says you can successfully plant just one idea in a mass medium, like a billboard; five things during a face-to-face meeting; and 50 or more ideas in a searchable database.<\/p>\n In other words, don\u2019t try to pitch recycling \u201crules\u201d in your Smalltown, USA community meeting; instead, argue for recycling itself and present a website URL or your waste and recycling app<\/a> for specific information.<\/p>\n Use the limited attention capacity of the meeting to deliver a resource that can explain all the specifics, rather than trying to run through those specifics within the same meeting.<\/p>\n When was the last time you added a few new photographs of local recyclers to your website or other communication materials? It\u2019s quick, easy and free — and research shows<\/strong><\/a> that the human eye is drawn to happy faces.<\/p>\n In fact, an attractive face gets noticed more quickly than other images and is \u201cprocessed more easily to reach consciousness.\u201d<\/p>\n The future risks and current outcomes of climate change and environmental degradation are real\u2014but you can find better ways to tell the story of recycling than through the lens of gloom anddoom.<\/p>\n According to University of Arizona, messages framed positively are often more persuasive<\/strong><\/a>, so focus on the positive aspects of recycling in your messaging for the best outcomes.<\/p>\n Example – No:<\/strong> Don\u2019t throw away cans and bottles. Yes:<\/strong> Recycle cans and bottles to save natural resources and keep our waterways clean!<\/p>\n Don\u2019t tell your audience you\u2019re trying to persuade them<\/strong><\/a> to recycle more and better. Instead of giving them \u201c10 Reasons Recycling Matters,\u201d just serve up concise facts about how to do it. (The research says this will nix any naysayers\u2019 opportunity to form counter-arguments ahead of time.)<\/p>\n Preaching to your rockstar recyclers at an environmental club meeting? Go slowly and make your argument methodically \u2013 they\u2019re listening! But if your audience is a mixed group of people who sometimes recycle – or don’t recycle at all – be ready to do some fast talking.<\/p>\n Research indicates<\/strong><\/a> listeners not already convinced of an argument may find a fast speaker to be intelligent and trustworthy, so add a few more slides and click quickly.<\/p>\n Listeners may not retain every word of every point, but getting them sold on the general concept is a great way to get started.<\/p>\n There\u2019s ample evidence to prove that people seek conformity<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 so casting recycling as a social norm could help persuade even the outliers in your community to take part. Try it: Measure baseline set-out rates for two or three collection routes, then create a friendly competition by sharing the percentages once a month for six months via digital channels.<\/p>\n With any luck, you\u2019ll see slight participation increases across all routes, as your waste communications have built the framework of this competition.<\/p>\n Most solid waste educators identify as environmentalists, and we can bring all the facts!<\/p>\n However, when the goal is behavior adoption, often better results can be achieved by skipping hot-button issues<\/strong><\/a> (such as climate change) in mass recycling messages and sticking to ideas that everyone can embrace: Conserving natural resources, creating local jobs, and building fewer landfills \u2013 no one wants to live near a landfill! — are all persuasive, pro-recycling talking points.<\/p>\n While the melting of polar ice caps due to human-driven climate change is real, focusing on the problem isn\u2019t likely to help recycling champions gain many followers.<\/p>\n Candidates often lose (or gain) a linguistic accent<\/strong><\/a> on the campaign trail \u2013 and it\u2019s more than a political stunt. Matching the tone and style of your audience, whether aloud or in writing, can make you more persuasive.<\/p>\n In recycling education, this might mean adopting slightly more formal vocabulary and style when speaking or writing for adults and keeping it simple for kids. In mass messaging, it\u2019s always wise to keep things as concise and straightforward as possible. If the classroom you\u2019re speaking to has been learning about conservation, toss out impactful, easy-to-remember stats on how many trees they can save by recycling all their classroom paper.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re speaking at an employee lunch-and-learn for a local manufacturing business, speak to the mechanical side of recycling, highlighting how technology and human labor work together to sort materials for recycling. Once again, keeping the audience at the forefront of your perspective is the key to winning them over.<\/p>\n Remember when you didn\u2019t know the meaning of MRF, and you had no clue what a National Sword was? Your recyclers still don\u2019t know because they don\u2019t work in the industry. Jargon is confusing<\/a><\/strong> – save it for conferences and peer discussions, not community messaging.<\/p>\n Call your MRF what it is — a municipal recycling facility or recycling center. Avoid overcomplicating things, as simpler waste management messages are far more likely to be retained.<\/p>\n Before you make decisions about how to communicate recycling information to your community, it\u2019s wise to listen to your constituents\u2019<\/strong><\/a> questions, ideas and concerns about the program.<\/p>\n Ward meetings and lengthy surveys represent the old-school here, you can gather information quickly using social media polls or by asking subscribers to reply to a question in your e-newsletter each month. Need ideas?<\/p>\n Ask, \u201cWhat\u2019s the hardest thing about recycling?\u201d and give options: a) Knowing what goes in the bin; B) Remembering to put my recycling at the curb on the right day; C) Getting my family to participate; or D) Other (fill in your answer). What you hear might surprise you!<\/p>\n This may sound scary to waste professionals on a tight budget who have typically needed to rely on existing structures to communicate. The good news is, waste management technology<\/a> is more accessible and affordable than ever, and out-of-the-box solutions for solid waste communications<\/a> have come a long way. Your residents lead increasingly busy lives: They don\u2019t just expect you to provide information digitally<\/a>, they need it so that they can do the right thing!<\/p>\n Interested in learning how our tools can simplify, assist, and amplify these 20 steps?<\/p>\n2. Play it again, Sam.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Ready to Get Started?<\/h4>\n
3. Tell the truth.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
4. Increase relevance.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
5. Empower your people.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
6. Go zombie!<\/strong><\/h3>\n
7. Focus on digital experiences<\/strong>.<\/h3>\n
Ready to Drive Up Recycling Rates?<\/h4>\n
8. Find common ground.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
9. Point to the experts.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
10. Use the 1, 5, 50 rule.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
11. About face.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
12. Stay positive<\/strong>.<\/h3>\n
13. Just do it.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
14. Pace matters.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
15. Make it normal<\/strong>.<\/h3>\n
16. Avoid strongly held beliefs<\/strong>.<\/h3>\n
17. Match style.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
18. Ditch the jargon.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
19. Listen first.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
20. Build a digital brand.<\/strong><\/h3>\n