Improving Participation in NYCs Recycling Program

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Improving Participation in NYCs Recycling Program

• Maggie Clarke, Ph.D.
• Maggie Clarke Environmental

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NYC Recycling Timeline
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New Yorks Waste Management

• No In-City Disposal Last Landfill
  closed 2001
• Mandatory Recycling Law 1989
• Required 25 Diversion by 1994 (Failed)
• Export of Uncaptured Recyclables, Organics,
• and other Discards to nearby WTE and far away
  Landfills

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History of Education and Enforcement

• Education intermittent transient population
  large
• Mailers less than once per year average
• TV, radio spots every few years
• School package, good but not given to all
• Specialized reports available on website
• Posters, stickers use pictograms / several
  languages available (but are they used
  appropriately?)
• 3 Rs composting get only 5 of over 1 Billion
  Sanitation budget for 8.5 million people (most
  pays for processing)
• New Office of Recycling Outreach Education in
  Mayors Office (2007) good start one staffer
  per borough (5)

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History of Enforcement

• Enforcement has been uneven
• Early Deal with Landlords not to enforce even
  though Law can fine landlords up to 10,000.
  (Doesnt happen) Only ticketed for no signage.
• Some homeowners get a ticket for one wrong item
• New York University gets ticket every week
  guaranteed to have one wrong item
• Capture rate less than 50 so almost guaranteed
  to find recyclables in trash
• Only recyclables are in clear bags garbage is in
  black bags so its hard to tell if recyclables
  are being trashed.

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NYC Diversion Rates by District
From DOS New York City Recycling In Context
A Comprehensive Analysis of Recycling in Major
U.S. Cities. August, 2001. This was prior to the
July, 2002 citywide reduction in recycling
service after which time only papers and metals
were collected until July, 2003.
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Geographic Distribution of Best and Worst
Recycling Districts
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Positive Correlations Between Poor Recycling
Participation and Demographics
Correlation r .83 to .88 for each of these,
where 1.0 is perfect correlation
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NYC district diversion rate and per capita
generation
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But What Is It About the Demographics That
Results in Poor Recycling Participation?

• We Need to Study the Contributory Factors to
  Recycling Behavior

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Achieving Participation
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Results of Dissertation Research

• Path Analysis Model Knowledge Attitudes
  Behavior?
• Contributions to (Recycling) Behavior
• Small amount by Knowledge
• Some by Attitude
• Lots from other Factors Outside the Model
• Beliefs, social norms, ability, experiences with
  recycling

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Why Such a Disparity?

• Possible Reasons
• Differences in Understanding of Recycling
  Program Instructions
• Differences in Motivation / Poor Attitude
• Differences in Convenience Factors / Barriers
• All Can be Assessed by Administering
  Questionnaires to Residents of Good and Poor
  Recycling Districts

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NYC Recycling Disparity Research Design

• 2-page surveys administered
• Knowledge, Attitude, Barriers, Demographics
  Questions
• 3 Administrations 2003 to 2005
• During and After Major Recycling Program Changes
  (Cuts then Restorations)
• Student administered (Removed suspicious results)
• Eventually over 2,000 surveys

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Knowledge Factors - overall
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Confusion by Residents
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Knowledge factors by diversion rate
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Knowledge disparities amongst districts
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Knowledge disparities amongst districts
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Possible Reasons For Not Participating(overall
results)
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Disparities Affecting Diversion
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More Associations with Diversion Rate

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Main single reason for not recycling all
recyclable items every time
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Findings

• Diversion rate correlates not only with
• demographics (income, education, race)
• but also
• Recycling Area Location Conditions
• Knowledge of Recycling Program Elements
• Local Area / Street Cleanliness

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Conclusions / Recommendations

• Improve Recycling Education
• Frequency of Education (I Forget to Recycle)
• What to Recycle (Im Confused)
• Why Recycle (I dont think I should have to)
• Target Especially to those who need it most (Low
  Income, Education, and Diversion areas)
• Stabilize Recycling Program to Optimize Good
  Attitude
• Dont Reduce Number of Recyclables Targeted Only
  Increase
• Keep Weekly Pickup of Recyclables

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Recommendations

• Increase and Improve Enforcement
• Continuing Equitable Enforcement, Targeted more
  to Apartment Building Recycling than in the past
• Collect Garbage in Clear Bags (perhaps
  translucent gray to differentiate from clear and
  translucent green bags)
• Implement Equitable Street Collections and
  Cleanings Amongst Neighborhoods
• Remove Barriers, e.g. Enact Building Codes to
  Encourage Same-Floor Recycling Areas

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• Maggie Clarke, Ph.D.
• l
• Maggie Clarke Environmental
• 1795 Riverside Drive, 5F
• New York, NY 10034
• 212-567-8272
• www.maggieclarkeenvironmental.com
• mclarke_at_hunter.cuny.edu