Since 4 out of5 bottles are not recycled how can i get people in my town to recycle more?

Question

Here is the thing... we have a recylcing pick up and I noticed there are not many people who put out bins

Answer 1

Charge for garbage pick up by the bag.

Answer 2

I like the idea of charging more for trash pick-up than recycling pick-up. The success of this may depend on how a municipality bills for such services...if at alll (believe it or not, some rural areas still do not recycle due to a lack of facilities). I think hitting people in the wallet is the most effective way to elicit change. There will be those whose stupid pride will get in the way but most people are finacially responsible enough to do the right thing and start recycle.

The biggest drawback I can see is that some people will be stubborn enough to either dump their garbage illegally along a roadside or burn it...even though this is more effort than just recycling in the first place.

Answer 3

Do you have deposits on the bottles? If so you could start a group to collect the bottles from people that just throw them out. Post signs and tell people you are starting a recycling group. In a effort to keep the club running you will be collecting bottles for the deposit. Then go pick up the bottles and cash in. Its a win win for you.
Sorry if you guys don't have deposits. But you could write a congressman telling them how its a great benifit to the earth, and states make a good little profit on all the bottles that don't get turned in. So to a point, thats a win win also.

Answer 4

I'm not sure how you come to the 4 out of 5 figure but if you have records to prove it that would be a start. Have your local government levy a fine to those who fail to recycle. Print the name picture and address of a person found guilty of this horrible offense. Have local organizations like boy scouts or girl scouts collect recyclables to get $$ to use for their troops. Stand on a busy corner like a dyed in the wool preacher and give sermons about recycling from your mount/standing.

Answer 5

I think the main problem is that not very many people are willing to carry around plastic bottles all day just to be able to recycle them. Try to get different businesses (especially restaurants) to have a place where a recycling kiosk is nearby and acessible. You can offer incentives to the businesses (money, free advertising, picking up the recycling yourself) to help convince them to set up these things.

Answer 6

Convenience and incentives. If the town saves bottles and cans and the funds go toward something that benefits seniors or children, people are more inclined to save.

Convenient recycling centers can be very helpful, too, if managed properly.

Answer 7

Post flyers on where they can take them. Sometimes people dont know where the recycle centers are? Also state facts on what recycling does for the earth. Good luck.

Answer 8

Get the trash companies to pick up items that can be recycled.

Answer 9

get on the radio and start a drive for people to drop off their plastic goods at a drop off point. our city does this with all types of scrap metals and plastics a few times a yr.

Answer 10

when someone buys that, someone will gather it and sell it . same with biogradables, then it can be process in biogas digesters facilities. Instead of paying collectors of garbages, pay those who bring them to the facilities.