Improving Participation in NYC’s Recycling Program

1. Improving Participation in NYC’s Recycling Program Maggie Clarke, Ph.D. Maggie Clarke Environmental

2. NYC Recycling Timeline

3. New York’s 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

4. 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 R’s & 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 Mayor’s Office (2007) – good start; one staffer per borough (5)

5. History of Enforcement • Enforcement has been uneven • Early Deal with Landlords not to enforce even though Law can fine landlords up to $10,000. (Doesn’t 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 it’s hard to tell if recyclables are being trashed.

6. 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.

7. Geographic Distribution of Best and Worst Recycling Districts

8. Positive Correlations Between Poor Recycling Participation and Demographics Correlation: r = .83 to .88 for each of these, where 1.0 is perfect correlation

9. NYC district diversion rate and per capita generation

10. But What Is It About the Demographics That Results in Poor Recycling Participation? We Need to Study the Contributory Factors to Recycling Behavior

11. Achieving Participation

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. Knowledge Factors - overall

16. Confusion by Residents

17. Knowledge factors – by diversion rate

18. Knowledge disparities amongst districts

19. Knowledge disparities amongst districts

20. Possible Reasons For Not Participating(overall results)

21. Disparities Affecting Diversion

22. More Associations with Diversion Rate

23. Main single reason for not recycling all recyclable items every time:

24. 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

25. Conclusions / Recommendations Improve Recycling Education • Frequency of Education (“I Forget to Recycle”) • What to Recycle (“I’m Confused”) • Why Recycle (“I don’t 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 • Don’t Reduce Number of Recyclables Targeted; Only Increase • Keep Weekly Pickup of Recyclables

26. 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

27. Maggie Clarke, Ph.D. l Maggie Clarke Environmental 1795 Riverside Drive, #5F New York, NY 10034 212-567-8272 www.maggieclarkeenvironmental.com mclarke@hunter.cuny.edu