Many communities are doing it right. They communicate to their residents on a regular basis. They understand the need to continually grow participation. AND they work hard to foster good relationships in their community, with political leaders, the media, various groups and organizations, as well as their customers.

If you want to be one of them, here are a few key strategies we recommend. For expanded information and additional ideas, please click here.

• Focus on bin usage – Getting more bins on the street is the single most effective way to yield more volume and more value.
  


• Communicate a consistent theme and messages to raise awareness for curbside – It is worth the time to create messages and consider a catchy tag-line for your program such as “Take it to the Curb!” or “ReThink Recycling!”
  


• Educate new residents – Often, new homeowners move in to a neighborhood with no information about curbside or how to participate.
  


• Reach out to media – Earning a story in the local paper or on a local television or radio station is far less expensive than paying for an advertisement in the same media outlet, and typically carries more credibility with residents.
  


• Brand recycling trucks – Recycling trucks serve as rolling billboards yet many do not capitalize on them.
  


• Utilize Web sites to encourage participation – Materials that should be included on every County/City recycling Web site include: (Visit our Communications Templates page for additional ideas and samples)
  


• Contact Information
• Frequently Asked Questions
• How to Get a Bin
• Materials Accepted/Not Accepted at the Curb
• Recycling Fun Facts
• Recycling Calendar
• Upcoming Events
  


• Invite 'sponsors' to your recycling program – Many communities have taken creative steps to market and fund their curbside programs. They have engaged local corporations to help fund their programs, brand their bins, serve as a bin distributor, etc.
  


• Use email to remind residents – Create an email alert system on your Web site to enable residents to sign up to be reminded the day before their curbside pick-up. The most common reason for not putting curbside out is that a resident forgets it is pick-up day.
  
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