Littering can often stem from a lack of knowledge about recycling and waste management efforts. Whether you’re trying to solve a littering problem in your community, local park, venue, or business, use these strategies to prevent littering and promote recycling. This will help stop littering at its source and turn littering into positive recycling efforts.
Recycling Bin Placement
When diving into the littering and recycling problems in your business or community, take a moment to observe the garbage and recycling can placement in the area. If garbage and recycling cans are too spread out, people are more likely to litter, as they see no other place to dispose of their trash. Always place ample trash and recycling options in high-traffic areas and even those that are slightly off the beaten path, as these areas will gather litter as well.
Educate With Prompts
Recycling prompts are educational materials like posters, videos, and announcements that make your patrons more aware of their recycling responsibilities. When you pair effective recycling bin placement and educational prompts together, these efforts can have a strong impact on both littering and recycling. While the closer placement will deter littering, nearby prompts will educate your patrons about effective recycling. You can even use effective prompt placement to prevent recycling contamination. Recycling contamination occurs when patrons put the wrong recyclables in the wrong receptacles, which means the recycling facility can’t sort them.
Make Sure Trash Is Secure
Unnecessary littering and recycling contamination may occur due to forces outside your control, like the weather. If your area experiences strong wind, make sure to batten down your trash and recycling bins or move them indoors. The wind will easily sweep away lightweight bins and scatter the trash everywhere, leading to more littering. Your issue could also stem from annoying critters rifling through your trash and recycling overnight, in which case you may need to critter-proof your cans.
Hopefully, these strategies to prevent littering and promote recycling inspire you with new ideas for your business or community. Together, we can cut down on littering and boost recycling efforts for a more sustainable tomorrow.
