Research to Inform and Improve Recycling in the Workplace. Webinar February 4, 2015

Transcription

1 Research to Inform and Improve Recycling in the Workplace Webinar February 4,

2 GoToWebinar Housekeeping: Attendee Participation Your Participation Open and hide your control panel Join audio: Choose Mic & Speakers to use VoIP Choose Telephone and dial using the information provided Submit questions and comments via the Questions panel GoToWebinar s customer support line:

3 Who We Are Keep America Beautiful is the nation s leading nonprofit that brings people together to build and sustain vibrant communities. We offer solutions that: Create clean, beautiful public places Reduce waste and increase recycling Inspire generations of environmental stewards Generate positive impact on the local economy We work to create communities that are socially connected, environmentally healthy and economically sound 3

4 Presenter Action Research Team Participants: Lori Large, Director of Research Operations Kaitlin Phelps, Project Manager Joey Schmitt, Project Manager Dani Ballard, Research Associate Wesley Schultz, Professor, California State University

5 Thank You Speaker! If you would like your own America Recycles Day t-shirt, check out our ARD online store! 5

6 Partners

7 Project Goal Test the impact of recycling and trash bin configurations on recycling at work. Metrics - Increase recycling - Reduce trash in the recycling bins - Reduce recycling in the trash bins

8 Poll Which desk-side bin set up do you think would be most successful at increasing accurate recycling? A. B. C. D.

9 Where MSW is Generated

10 Workplace Waste by Type Breakdown of Waste Stream in a Typical Office Building by Type* *Great Forest average waste audit results

11 Opportunity to Make a Difference 5.6 million commercial buildings in the U.S. Total over 87 billion square feet Source: The Commercial Building Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS), EIA

12 Participating Office Buildings Boston San Diego Atlanta Houston

13 CBRE Office Buildings All single stream (mixed recycling) Single buildings ATL: Three building office park Desk-side recycling and trash ATL: Desk-side recycling only All faced implementation issues

14 Timeline of Major Activities Pre-Audit Employee Survey Bin Placement 4 months Post-Audit Employee Survey Baseline Waste Audits (2) Audit 1 Audit 2 Audit 3 Audit 4

15 Offices 34 offices Between 2 and 70 employees (average of 15) One or two office contacts EQUAL-SIZE RECYCLING ONLY LITTLE TRASH INFO ONLY EXCLUDED (REFUSED) ATLANTA BOSTON HOUSTON SAN DIEGO

16 Little Trash

17 Equal-size

18 Recycling Only

19 Information Only

20 Common Area

21 Informational flyer Color and logo consistent with bins Common office items Realistic photos over stock images Focus on priorities instead of messaging on everything

22 Recycling Bin Signage Color and logo on bins Same items Realistic photos over stock images Focus on priorities instead of messaging on everything

23 Trash Bin Signage Color and logo on bins Same items Realistic photos over stock images Focus on priorities instead of messaging on everything

24 Data Collection

25 Employee Survey Pre-Audit Web Survey Pre-Notification Post-Audit Web Survey Pre-Notification Survey Link Survey Link Reminder , Note, and Coupon Reminder , Note, and Coupon

26 Employee Pre and Post Survey Office Recycling General Knowledge, Behavior, and Beliefs Knowledge, Behavior, and Beliefs about Flyer Items Evaluation of the Project (post-survey only) Classification Questions

27 Employee Pre and Post Survey Home Recycling General Knowledge, Behavior, and Beliefs Public Recycling General Knowledge, Behavior, and Beliefs

28 Monthly Waste Audit Total Weight Weight of Flyer Items Count of Cans and Bottles

29 Results

30 Frequency of Incorrect Disposal Percentage of offices with trash in recycling bins by material type Percentage of offices with recyclables in trash bins by material type

31 Average Recycling Weight Per Office Interpretation: Recycling rates were highly variable, and did not show a clear pattern of change.

32 Average Trash Weight Per Office Interpretation: Trash rates were highly variable, and did not show a clear pattern of change.

33 Waste Audit: Percentage of Recyclables in Trash Interpretation: Fewer recyclables were in the trash for the Little trash condition. Same trend for Equal Size. Trend for increase in recycling only. Note: Weight of Recyclables divided by Total Weight of Material Collected in Trash bin

34 Waste Audit: Average Office Paper Weight in Trash Interpretation: Less trash was in the recycling container for the Little trash condition.

35 Employee Survey Results

36 Survey: General Self-Report Office Recycling Knowledge, Matched Sample Pre to Post Rated on a scale of 0 (not at all) to 10 (very) * indicates statistically significant change

37 Survey: Total Specific Office Item Knowledge, Matched Sample Pre to Post Asked to indicate which bin flyer items should go in, and each correct answer got 1 point (perfect score =10) * indicates statistically significant change

38 Survey: General Self-Report Office Recycling Behavior, Matched Sample Pre to Post Rated on a scale of 0 (never) to 10 (always) * indicates statistically significant change

39 Survey: General Self-Report Public Recycling Behavior, Matched Sample Pre to Post Only measure of spill over with significant, desirable results Rated on a scale of 0 (never) to 10 (always) * indicates statistically significant change

40 CONCLUSIONS Little Trash Increased correct disposals Decreased recyclables in the trash from 29% to 13% Office paper in trash reduced to practically nothing Decreased recycling bin contamination 20% by reducing the percentage of trash material in the recycling from 35% to 15%.

41 Little Trash-Most Successful Desirable significant changes across employee survey results Positive experience, shown through employee survey ratings and comments: [The thing I did differently because of Recycling at Work was ] I pay more attention when disposing of anything. [One thing I particularly liked about the Recycling at Work project was the ] different sized bins really helped.

42 CONCLUSIONS Equal Size Kept trash out of the recycling, but not vise versa No significant decrease in recyclables in the trash No significant change in the weight of paper in trash Decreased recycling bin contamination 17% by reducing the percentage of trash material in the recycling from 32% to 15%.

43 Equal Size Fairly Successful Some desirable survey changes Positive experience, shown through employee survey ratings and comments: [The thing I did differently because of Recycling at Work was ] I recycled more often and with more confidence since I now have a better understanding of what to recycle and what not to [recycle].

44 CONCLUSIONS Recycling Only Undesirable or neutral audit results 14% increase in recyclables in the trash No change in weight of office paper in the trash No change in recyclables in the recycling

45 Recycling Only-Least Successful Mixed survey results Neutral to Negative experience, shown through employee survey ratings, and comments: [One thing I would change about Recycling at Work is ] [I] need to have both trash cans in my office, not just a recycle bin. For example, I eat a banana every day and having to walk the peel to the kitchen room is a nuisance.

46 Information only No behavioral changes Some changes in knowledge Insufficient to change behavior Necessary to go beyond

47 Recommendations 1. Make recycling easy Include paired bins in the common areas Keep signage simple Message on, or near, the recycling bin about commonly used office items

48 Recommendations 2. Use effective placement Co-locate recycling and trash at the workstation Single stream Use the Little Trash set-up If not feasible, use Equal Sized set-up

49 Recommendations 3. Be consistent One program throughout the building Same colors, images, messages, placement Decreases confusion for cleaning staff Decreases confusion for employees

50 Resources See for more information, tools, report and fact sheet Contact local solid waste facility for locally relevant information

51 Questions? 51

52 And the Winner is Thanks! If you would like your own America Recycles Day t-shirt, check out our ARD online store! 52