[GreenYes] Re: Municipal Policy - Commercial Recycling Sticker Programs

[David Biddle <Dbiddle@no.address>]

It worked for Philly in the mid-90s to use static cling decals coupled with
inspection and enforcement work. Our SWEEP officers were fully tasked to go
out into the business districts looking for a list of recycling compliance
issues. If folks passed they got a sticker. If not, they got a warning and
two weeks to comply. Generally, everyone complied and today,  more than a
decade later, some of these buildings still have the stickers near their
street front entryways.

The mix of enforcement and incentive really captured our media as well. On
the program kickoff day we had two major radio stations and our ABC
affiliate following us around, plus interviews on Fox News and NBC News
(local). 

In order to get the buzz going, we¹d spent close to six months with a PR
consultant beating the bushes. I was interviewed on several radio stations
and posted several editorials in the Phila. Inquirer sort of warning folks
this was coming and talking about the virtues of smart office recycling,
etc. One thing I know now that I didn¹t back then is that most media outlets
really want to report positive stories with hands on, real life anectdotal
evidence. Trash is bad Recycling is good. We should have set up some sort of
media bus and done our press conference at a landfill or transfer station,
then moved the show to five or six sites where our inspectors were and then
finished at facilities that we knew were already in compliance.

One last thing: the decal itself was key.  We spent a gob of cash to have a
graphic design firm go through options and test groups and more options,
etc. Size, aesthetics, message, etc. were are key. In the end we settled on
a simple message (³Philadelphia Commercial Recycler²) and the aesthetics
were a stylized chasing arrows in blue the shape of the liberty bell
surrounding the Philadelphia Recycling Office logo with the year at the
bottom. If I were to do it all over again, I would make available a high
quality, stand with a really nicely colored plaque for purchase (at cost)
for high-end buildings such as luxury hotels and office high-rises. Or maybe
a series of options.

Hope this helps.

db
-- 
David Biddle, Executive Director
<http://www.blueolives.blogspot.com>
Greater Philadelphia Commercial Recycling Council
P.O. Box 4037
Philadelphia, PA 19118

215-247-3090 (desk)
215-432-8225 (cell)

<http://www.gpcrc.com>

Read In Business magazine to learn about sustainable
businesses in communities across North America!
Go to: <http://www.jgpress.com/inbusine.htm>


on 3/23/07 6:16 PM, RecycleBizCzar at Russell.Klein@no.address wrote:

> 
> Dear All,
> 
> The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (www.mwcog.org) is
> working on a regional storefront window sticker program to recognize
> businesses who comply with local recycling regulations.
> 
> Our office would like to hear from program directors, etc. out there
> who have useful anecdotes to send, privately if necessary, describing
> how they launched their programs (in terms of PR; getting the word
> out) and what sort of unexpected setbacks and/or community responses
> occurred?
> 
> Also, on a technical note: if you are using a storefront window
> sticker, how did/do you address large commercial properties (multiple
> tenants, big marble lobbies, etc.)?
> 
> Thanks for the consideration.
> 
> ___________________________________________
> 
> Russell Klein
> Community Environmental Education Specialist, D.C. Office of
> Recycling
> D.C. Department of Public Works
> 202-645-8505 Direct Ext.
> 202-645-8245 Hotline
> 202-645-8518 Fax
> 
> Rethink. Reduce. Reuse... And then Recycle.
> 
> 
> > 
> 






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