Drop-Off Recycling

THIS TOOLKIT IS PROVIDED BY RECYCLE, MICHIGAN—AN EDUCATION AND OUTREACH INITIATIVE OF THE MICHIGAN RECYCLING COALITION

RESIDENTIAL EDUCATION & OUTREACH TOOLKIT

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Drop-Off Recycling

Drop-off recycling centers are an important part of the material recovery system because they make recycling opportunities accessible for everyone. For communities, multi-family housing units, or commercial businesses where curbside recycling is not offered or requires additional fees, drop-off programs assure access to recycling. Additionally, drop-off programs can accept a wider range of recyclable material because specific materials can receive the special handling they might require like rechargeable batteries, textiles, electronic waste, tires, and more. In general, messaging around material preparation is the same for curbside and drop-off recycling opportunities:

Loose and unbagged

Free of leftover food & liquid

Cardboard flattened

Drop-off recycling requires residents to make a special effort to recycle. You can support them with these best practices:

On-site Signage

✓ Assure proper signage is used to direct traffic and provide needed recycling information.

✓ Use photos of accepted materials at the site.

✓ Replace sun-bleached, damaged, or faded signs.

✓ Change the color or frame of a sign with each material category (e.g. household hazardous waste, traditional recyclables, special recyclables.

Keep it Clean!

✓ If a resident has dumped a furniture item in front of a recycling container, remove it as soon as possible.

✓ Sweep up any broken glass or wind-blown litter on the site.

✓ Remember, if it looks like a "dump site," people may treat it as one.

If it's staffed...

✓ Make sure your staff is trained to talk about the materials collected there and the proper preparation of those materials for recycling.

✓ Equip staff with the most up-to-date information about recycling-related events, initiatives, and talking points about common contaminants.

✓ Consider a feedback system with drop-off staff to share common inquiries and confusion points.

Make it pretty!

✓ Consider floral landscaping, potted plants, or colorful creative sculptures around your site to make it more inviting.

✓ Recycling is a valued service that contributes to community place-making. Making recycling activities part of the community culture is good for everyone.

Provide additional info!

✓ Consider adding lidded brochure holders or signage with a QR code that provides easily accessible access to more educational information.

✓ If you use a QR code to link to a landing page (a web page specific to this QR code), you can track the frequency people access the information provided and the effectiveness of that information.

Messaging for YOUR Program

Essential Drop-Off

Commonly Recycled Materials

An essential drop-off collects commonly recycled materials like paper, cardboard, plastic containers, glass, and metal containers.

Clear signage
Knowledgeable staff & volunteers
Flow of traffic signage particularly if unstaffed

Comprehensive Drop-Off

Expanded Materials

A comprehensive drop-off offers an expanded variety of items and materials for residents to recycle. Additional materials may include batteries, e-waste, textiles, furniture, mattresses, and more.

Specific signage for special materials
Knowledgeable staff & volunteers

Community Events

Common & Expanded Materials

Special Events can give residents the chance to recycle things like household chemicals and electronics that may not be accepted year-round.

Outreach before event
- Social media
- Press release
Clarity on who is allowed (is it limited to residents?)
An excellent opportunity for public-private partnerships.