This is the updated slides to the recycling section of the talk I gave at Green Drinks Singapore on 1st Jul 2010

1. Influencing users to recycle and recycle correctly by applying Human Psychology June 2010 Marcus Tay Guan Hock

2. Contents Tackling Recycling Contamination Recycling bin designs lessons

3. Let’s Imagine

4. IMAGINE: You are done with a fruit juice plastic cup:

5. And you see the following recycling bins: What would you do?

6. Did you recycle correctly? National Environment Agency (NEA) spokesman : throwing waste such as leftover food and drinks into the bins contaminates the recyclable materials and renders them non-recyclable. RECYCLING CONTAMINATION

7. Did you recycle correctly? NEA URL on Brochure for recyclables: http://app2.nea.gov.sg/data/cmsresource/20100120281853527479.pdf

8. How serious is contamination of recycling bins? NEA: About one-fifth of all waste deposited in recycling bins could not be recycled. Straits Times 15 Jun 09

9. KK Hospital Recycling bins in June 2009 – Plastic containers only

11. Users just need to be educated …Straits Times Discussion Board Replies to the article: “Maybe a public campaign should be launched to educate the public on how to use the recyclable bins.….”

12. EDUCATION!EDUCATION!!EDUCATION!!! BUT HOW TO EDUCATE?

13. Singapore national recycling vs. contamination?

14. Recycling well labelled? “Recycling bins are clearly labelled with the materials that can be placed in them.” Singapore Environment Coucil replyto the article

15. Not really… Another Straits Times Discussion Board Reply:“… I for one, was surprised to read from the papers that cardboards that hold food cannot be recycled,cos now I am guilty of throwing my pizza box into the recycle bin.” Need to move beyond just labeling paper, plastic into labeling types of paper and plastic accepted.

16. NUS Recycling Story. Our success and techniques

17. Contamination in NUS (Before Nov 2008)

18. Results in Jan/Feb 09 Level of contamination dropped drastically. Not perfect

19. Vital Behaviours in tackling recycling contamination Educate what can be recycled Educate at the point of throwing 3. Pair Trash bin with recycling bin

20. VB1:Can it be recycled ? Common recycling bins in Singapore only label “Paper, plastic, cans”

21. VB1:Can it be recycled ? Need to move beyond just labeling paper, plastic into labeling types of paper and plastic that are accepted.

22. Expect Error from User = Specific about what to throw Reference:“Nudge – Improving Decisions about Health, wealth and Happiness” VB1:Can it be recycled ?

23. VB2: Educate at point of throwing? V.S Poster on Noticeboards Email circular Presentations during lectures

24. VB2: Educate at point of throwing? Instructions right at the point of throwing

25. For prompts to be effective, they need to be presented as close in time and space as possible to the targeted behaviour… Reference: McKenzie-Mohr, D., & Smith, W. (1999). Fostering sustainable behavior: An introduction to community-based social marketing (2nd ed.) VB2: Educate at point of throwing?

26. Jurong Bird Park doing so as well – May 2010

27. VB 3: Pair Trash bin with recycling bin Expect less from good human behaviour Give people an option not to throw into the recycling bin if it can not be recycled

28. Other measures in tackling contamination Oct 2008 – Feb 2009

29. Education Campaigns Email circular Message of the Day (MOTD) Presentations during lectures

30. Engage the Housekeepers

31. Humourous Approach by students Youtube Link to video

32. Efforts of Oct 2008 to Feb 2009 No complaints yet from Veolia since Aug 2009? Contamination standards is good enough for industry! And they pay us for it!

33. Other lessons in bin design Poka Yoke(Mistake Proofing) is the way to go

34. Different holes for different items The use of specialized container lids increased recycling compliance rate by 34% and reduced the amount of contaminants entering the recycling stream by 95%.

35. Colour scheme of Trash bins Green Trash Bin vsGreen Bottles Recycling Bins These 2 bins should not be placed side by side

36. Solution: Different colour for trash bins Colour scheme of Trash bins – Grey Bins Gradually replace current green trash bins with bluish grey ones over time

38. No need to remind housekeepers to have round recycling bins all facing frontV.S

39. Black labels to make up for vertical wordings

40. New bins with lots of thoughts put in Horizontal words Easy reading Instructive description: “Non recyclables” vs “Others” or “Trash” “Empty cans, Clean Paper”

41. New bins with lots of thoughts put in Straight sides prevent turning Less need to train/remind housekeepers to have bins face front Instructive stickers made right on top

42. Posters to align bins for housekeepers For bazaar areas where bins are always moved Assist housekeeping staff to get order of colours correct. Lend formality to the entire system

43. Summary

44. Recycling Bins Design Tips Summary Expect Error from users Be specific about what can be recycled Timing of education Educate at the point of recycling Expect less from good human behavior Partner trash bins with recycling bins

45. Recycling Bins Design Tips Summary 2 Consistent colour coded bins Minimise mistakes by users, impression of a system Designed not only for the users but also for the housekeeping staff Straight sided bins to prevent turning Big Signage to indicate order of bins in areas where they are always moved around