In an effort to improve recycling diversion rates in the City of Plano, in Spring 2020, the Environmental Health & Sustainability Department applied for and received a grant from the North Central Texas Council of Governments (COG) to conduct a comprehensive recycling education pilot program:
1. Cart Lid Pilot: 500 cart lids will be replaced with brightly colored lime green lids in order to more conspicuously identify the recycling cart as anecdotal evidence suggests that residents may confuse the trash and recycling carts. The pilot will be conducted by an experienced contractor and will include a baseline audit, replacement of the lid, two follow-up audits to gauge success, and metric collection and reporting. This pilot will be valuable in determining whether a significant investment should be made in purchasing replacement cart lids.
2. Peek and Check Pilot: This is a four-week pilot for 7,200 homes in a targeted neighborhood that has shown, through baseline audits already conducted, high recycling contamination rates. An outside contractor experienced in the “Peek & Check” method will be employed to conduct the pilot. Following a quick peek and check of the top surface of the cart contents, each resident will receive a “Thank You for Recycling” note. One side will provide general education on recycling correctly and the other side will provide tips for the homeowner. Multiple versions of the thank you note will be produced. The second side would differ on each version and the tips would change depending on what the peek and check showed. All carts would be serviced regardless of contamination. This pilot will be helpful in identifying if direct communication at the cart is effective in reducing contamination.
3. Cart Lid Sticker Pilot: Placement of an educational sticker on 500 recycling cart lids in a specified zip code. A baseline audit to determine cart contamination levels will be conducted before the installation of a sticker. One follow-up audit will be conducted to determine if the sticker results in positive behavior change.
Proposals were solicited using a request for proposal (RFP) selection process. Through the RFP selection process, we are able to identify the vendor that meets the requirements of the project and provides the best value. Integrity Marketing Solutions LLC was determined to be the highest scoring vendor as they met and exceeded the requirements and needs of the project and provided the best value. This was evident in the experience of their project team on similar projects, the proposed project approach, commitment to customer service in the field, and hands on support of their field staff.
Following planning sessions with the selected vendor, production of materials, and other activities that must take place to lay the groundwork for the studies (ordering cart lids, hiring and training of temporary staff, etc.), the pilots are scheduled to begin in January 2021 with field work lasting approximately 6-10 weeks. Prior to commencing activities, door hangers with information about the pilot and contact information will be distributed to residents whose homes are included in the study. If we have the opportunity to begin sooner than January 2021, we will ensure the council is informed of this ahead of time.
If not approved, the city will continue with existing education programs without the benefit of the data and potential behavior changes these pilot projects will provide.