Claremont

To find effective ways to increase public participation in recycling, two studies were undertaken in the City of Claremont, California. In each case, trained volunteers went door-to-door contacting members of non-recycling households. Two approaches were tried -one using Boy Scouts, and the other using neighbours as volunteers.

Background

In the 1980s, less than 30 percent of the residents of Claremont, California, were bringing their recyclables to the curb for collection. A literature review revealed that improvements in participation rates gained through the use of incentives often ended when the incentives were removed. The review suggested that persuasive communication, and obtaining a written or verbal commitment were effective ways to cause lasting changes in behaviour.

Delivering the Program

Boy Scout Study (1984)

Boy Scouts were trained as messengers to non-recycling households. Their association with honesty and concern for nature made them a credible choice. After introducing themselves to householders, they cited some advantages of recycling and described how to recycle with the city program.

They then administered one of three approaches. In one approach householders were asked to read a persuasive communication, essentially the same as that used by the block leaders.

In a second approach, householders were asked to sign a pledge card (Obtaining a Commitment). They were also provided with a sticker containing an attractive logo and the words: "I Recycle to Win the War on Waste."

The third approach combined both the communication, the pledge card, and the sticker. All three approaches ended with householders being offered mesh recycling bags.

Block Leader Study (1988)

Residents were recruited from households that consistently recycled, to act as recycling block leaders (Neighbourhood Coaches and Block Leaders). The invitation to be a block leader went something like this: "We've noticed your recyclables at the curb on trash day and we wish there were more people like you. Our latest strategy to increase recycling is to have people who are already recycling explain to their neighbours how easy and important it is. I've got a list right here of 10 of your non-recycling neighbours. Would you be willing to be a recycling block leader?" Out of 13 households approached, representatives of 8 agreed to be block leaders.

The block leaders were trained to visit about 10 previously identified non-recycling neighbours (Home Visits). After introducing themselves and explaining their appointment by a city committee, they provided householders with a recycling information sheet.

A vivid, personalized communication (Vivid, Personalized Communication) was then delivered orally, using a graphic description of the amount of waste generated. The statement also linked recycling to accepted beliefs (patriotism) and practices (taking out the trash) (Building Motivation Over Time and Norm Appeals).

The block leaders helped overcome barriers to participation by clearly explaining how convenient recycling really is and how an individual's contribution makes a difference to combating waste problems. They also provided the household with three mesh recycling bags. To further build motivation, the block leaders ended their visit with the statement: "I hope to see your bags out at the curb in a few weeks."

For the purposes of comparison, a second group of households, an "information at door only" group, simply had the information sheet, recycling bags and a written copy of the speech supporting recycling left at their doors. A third group, used as a control, received neither the information nor the visit.

Financing the Program

The block leader approach was slightly more costly to administer than the Boy Scout approach, because of the additional time required to recruit volunteers. It took approximately three to four hours to obtain the eight block leaders in the study. However, block leader recruitment could be done by members of a local community or by environmental groups, students, or other volunteers.

Measuring Achievements

This randomized field experiment had two treatment conditions and a control group receiving no treatment. One treatment group consisted of neighborhood block leaders who delivered persuasive communications and recycling bags to non-recycling neighbors to increase participation in a citywide, curbside recycling program. The other treatment group consisted of non-recycling households who had persuasive communications and recycling bags left at their doors.

Results

All three approaches delivered by the Boy Scouts were found to be equally successful in motivating recycling behaviour. Approximately 40 percent of the homes in each group subsequently recycled at least once during a six-week follow-up observation period. In comparison, only 11 percent of the control group recycled at least once. The face-to-face delivery and the public commitment resulted in approximately equal rates of recycling when delivered separately but combining them did not boost their effectiveness.

In the block leader study, 60 percent of the non-recycling households contacted in person recycled at least once during a 10-week follow-up and 28 percent began to recycle weekly. In the group receiving information at the door only, 38 percent recycled at least once and 12 percent did so on a weekly basis. In the control group, 20 percent recycled at least once and 3 percent recycled on a weekly basis.

Taken together, the results of both studies suggest that a persuasive message delivered to the door can improve recycling rates significantly, and that a home visit can further increase participation rates.

In both studies, recycling participation rates remained relatively stable during the observation period, suggesting that the tools of change employed effected long lasting changes in behaviour.

Contacts

Dr. Shawn Burn
California Polytechnic University
San Luis Obispo, California
93407
U.S.A.
(805) 756-2934
E-mail: sburn@calpoly.edu

Notes

Last Revised: August 2004

This case study was originally published in 1998 in "Tools of Change: Proven Methods for Promoting Environmental Citizneship" by Jay Kassirer and Doug McKenzie-Mohr (Published by Canada's National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy)