CLEANING UP THE STREAM –WHAT WORKS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL
PRESENTATION TOPIC
EDUCATION & OUTREACH
Session Description
INDIVIDUAL Can low-cost social marketing interventions “clean up the recycling stream”? …Or get people to recycle more? Two recent projects in suburban Colorado used pre / post / control group methods to explore the effectiveness of a set of social marketing approaches on behaviors in recycling, contamination, and sustainability.
One grant project focused purely on increasing residential recycling, and reducing recycling contamination. Targeted messaging was informed by a “pre”-waste sort and focus groups with area residents. The targets were problem materials (including plastic bags), preparation, and wishful recycling. After several rounds of education, and some prizes and contests in the test area, the post-waste sorts (control and test) allowed examination of changes in disposed and recycled materials. The “post” survey tested for changes in knowledge and behaviors for target materials.
The second project included both residential recycling and sustainability behaviors. Pre-, during-, and post- data were collected on recycling behaviors and energy use. Pre-surveys were conducted, and collateral for each topic (recycling, water, and energy) was provided in turn. The collateral directed households to a web survey, and passing the associated quiz or commitment entitled households to prizes. The pre-, during-, and post- data and a follow-up survey were analyzed for control/test area differences.
Results and costs are presented, along with the collateral and methods used. We demonstrate the effects that can be obtained from very low-cost efforts – and that some prizes are better than others! Budget was allocated for follow-ups on both projects to examine retention of behavior changes.
Speakers
Ann Gibbs, Skumatz Economic Research Associates, Inc.
Title
Analyst
Speaker Biography
Ms. Gibbs has conducted community outreach for recycling programs and participated in social marketing research projects. She has conducted set out surveys and gathered data for assessing participation in recycling programs. She has strong analytical skills and is currently working on data input for a state collection modeling project. She also spends time updating one of SERA’s large databases including conducting literature reviews. She has spoken at conferences from Washington state to Idaho to New York and provided public outreach through speaking engagements in New Mexico and other areas.
Abstract Title
CLEANING UP THE STREAM –WHAT WORKS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL
Speaker Abstract
Can low-cost social marketing interventions “clean up the recycling stream”? …Or get people to recycle more? Two recent projects in suburban Colorado used pre / post / control group methods to explore the effectiveness of a set of social marketing approaches on behaviors in recycling, contamination, and sustainability.
One grant project focused purely on increasing residential recycling, and reducing recycling contamination. Targeted messaging was informed by a “pre”-waste sort and focus groups with area residents. The targets were problem materials (including plastic bags), preparation, and wishful recycling. After several rounds of education, and some prizes and contests in the test area, the post-waste sorts (control and test) allowed examination of changes in disposed and recycled materials. The “post” survey tested for changes in knowledge and behaviors for target materials.
The second project included both residential recycling and sustainability behaviors. Pre-, during-, and post- data were collected on recycling behaviors and energy use. Pre-surveys were conducted, and collateral for each topic (recycling, water, and energy) was provided in turn. The collateral directed households to a web survey, and passing the associated quiz or commitment entitled households to prizes. The pre-, during-, and post- data and a follow-up survey were analyzed for control/test area differences.
Results and costs are presented, along with the collateral and methods used. We demonstrate the effects that can be obtained from very low-cost efforts – and that some prizes are better than others! Budget was allocated for follow-ups on both projects to examine retention of behavior changes.