Door to Door Promotions Making the Public take Responsibility for their Recyclables

摘要

Those Local Authorities in the UK with kerbside recycling schemes achieving 50% diversion or more have all managed to gain high participation in the scheme by adopting a scheme that is well designed, easy to use and appropriate for the local area and through significant commitment to building residential engagement and support for the service. This paper will discuss best practice in public engagement and empowerment and link this to the design and delivery of successful kerbside recycling programmes. There are three distinct stages in the life cycle of a kerbside recycling scheme: [a] scheme design and strategy consultation; [b] new scheme rollout; and [c] post implementation performance improvement. This paper will use an example of each to explain the value of full public engagement, in particular in ensuring public ownership and responsibility for the recycling scheme. All 3 examples will identify how door to door promotions campaigns (doorstepping) have helped to deliver appropriate recycling schemes and raise recycling rates, including a 68% increase in glass collected in one authority and a 35% increase in recycling participation and overall tonnage in another. The key factor in the successful use of door to door promotions campaigns in the UK has been in getting real word feedback on plans, and services, thus ensuring continuous improvement in public satisfaction, participation and scheme efficiency. The paper will discuss the cost effectiveness of door to door promotions and consider their value in other locations at all stages of recycling service evolution.