Recycle: Bin Types
February 5, 2009 at 12:16 am 4 comments
The talk of the eco-interwebz this week is a study by Sean Duffy and Michelle Verger, who work in psychology at Rutgers University. After noticing a pattern in the number of items recycled properly and the type of bin used, they completed a study; a series of experiments. Apparently, if a recycling bin has a hole in it to put the recyclable rubbish through, it is 34% more effective than a bin that looks like a regular rubbish bin. That is, the recyclables go into the right bin (not the general waste bin), but also that the general waste doesn’t go into the recycling bin.
Um. Weird. More organisational psychology craziness!
Seriously though, this seems legit. So I wonder why this is? I can see why people would have trouble recycling properly, if you get bins like the ones shown below, and described at Treehugger. They’re just so poorly signed.
Poor signage - picture from Steven de Sousa on Treehugger
But what if the bin is signed properly? Is it really the childlike delight at poking something through a hole that makes that type of recycling bin so much more effective, as suggested by Duffy? His study found that signage had nothing to do with it.
Our work recycling bin, the one my Environment Team colleagues and I organised, has a flip top lid. It is appropriately signed and the lid is green though. Perhaps it’s the colouring that is making these bins a success? Regardless, people are using them… even without a hole to poke the rubbish through.
Guess I don’t need to get out my stanley knife and cut a hole in the lid just yet.
Entry filed under: Recycle. Tags: bins, corporate action, design, recycling.
1.
Recycle Raccoon | February 6, 2009 at 7:33 am
Our organization has found that good design is especially important with public place recycling bins. When we get bins for schools or other public places in our county (i.e. parks) we make sure that there are (a) picture labels with very few words (b) a clear bag so people see what ‘belongs’ where (c) look very different from the garbage cans and, most importantly (d) are directly next to a garbage can — no lonely bins!!! This site is very helpful in setting up bins for an event: http://besmart.org/publicplacerecycling/
2.
ecolesbovego | February 6, 2009 at 5:42 pm
I really like the clear bin/bag idea actually – not just so people can see what’s going where, but I think if you had it in a public place that you frequented a lot (like the kitchen at work), then it would keep people honest too. You wouldn’t want to be able to see into the regular bin and find it full of recyclables. I know at my workplace, people would be like… hey, you’re the only one here who drinks soy milk, what’s that bottle doing in there..?
I’ve only had time to glance at that site, but it looks to be a good one, very detailed. I may share it with my Environment Team at work. Thanks!
3.
Yankee Elv | February 9, 2009 at 3:22 pm
What are you doing with a stanley knife? I though I was the tool girl around here – or did you swipe that one from my bag?
I have to agree on the importance of clear labeling and all that – it is so annoying to find things in the wrong bin (especially if it is there out of sheer laziness) and having to sort it out.
4.
ecolesbovego | February 9, 2009 at 9:54 pm
You are the tool girl, always! I can use a stanley knife though, that’s not really what I’d call a tool.
Clear labelling is so important – our work recycling bin is going well and I have signs all over the place!