Recycle Right

Bankstown, Australia tested a range of options for reducing waste contamination. 

Background

Since the introduction of the household recycling service, councils had experienced challenges in helping residents understand how to Recycle Right.

Setting Objectives

To address this, Bankstown City Council commenced work on a major project to reduce contamination rates in yellow recycling bins to below 10%.

Results

  

 

 

Contamination Rate Before

Contamination Rate After

Door hangers (Well done! or Oh no!)

Large complex

22%

22%

Door hangers

Small complex

26%

12%

Recycling tubs (in-home buckets)

Multi-unit dwellings

32%

18%

Recycling tubs

Single-unit dwellings

24%

8%

Door knocking plus feedback

Multi-unit dwellings

45%

15%

Door knocking plus feedback

Single-unit dwellings

29%

12%

Pledge

Multi-unit dwellings

41%

17%

Pledge

Single-unit dwellings

28%

10%

Flag and tag (well done! or Oh no!)

 

21%

11%

Changing lids

 

30%

5%

Wall poster

 

32%

6%

Poster on bulk bins

 

22%

59%

 

Contacts

Town Council web page: http://www.bankstown.nsw.gov.au/index.aspx?NID=1004

Notes

You Tube video showing how each intervention was carried out.

This case study was compiled in 2015 by Jay Kassirer and Kelley Dennings.

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