waste audit guide
DESCRIPTION
A guide for waste audit techniqueTRANSCRIPT
THE RESOURCE RECOVERY FUND BOARD
WASTE AUDIT GUIDE
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1 INTRODUCTION TO THE GUIDE
1.1 The Need for a Waste Audit Guide
All over the world, businesses and institutions are changing theway they deal with solid waste. Now, waste is increasinglyregarded as a resource. Here in Nova Scotia, the process ofchange is being driven by the Nova Scotia Solid Waste-ResourceManagement Strategy and new provincial regulations. Inparticular, Nova Scotia businesses and institutions will beaffected by a set of provincial bans on certain materials goinginto landfills and incinerators.
This Guide uses a waste audit approach to waste-resourceassessment and is an important first step towards a comprehensivewaste reduction program for your organization. It will help you andyour organization assess your current generation of solid wasteand to plan the changes necessary to comply with the provincialregulations. A waste assessment can be an extremely valuableexperience to a forward-thinking business or institution. Byfollowing this visual estimate approach your organization will be inan excellent position to implement a sound Waste ReductionAction Plan and help Nova Scotia turn waste into resources.
The Guide has been adapted from a document developed byHalifax Regional Municipality for the Industrial, Commercial andInstitutional sectors (IC&I). The Resource Recovery Fund Board(RRFB) is grateful to HRM for making this available to businessesand institutions throughout the province in this revised form.
Materials BannedFrom Landfill andIncineration§ Redeemed
beveragecontainers
§ Corrugatedcardboard
§ Newsprint§ Lead-acid
automotivebatteries
§ Leaf and yardwaste
§ Scrap tires§ Waste paint § Ethylene glycol
(automotiveantifreeze)
§ Steel/tin foodcontainers
§ Glass foodcontainers
§ Low-densitypolyethylene(LDPE) bags &packaging
§ High-densitypolyethylene(HDPE) bags &packaging
§ Compostableorganic material
For more information on the Resource Recovery Fund Board, Inc., its mandate and itsprograms for waste-recovery, check out the RRFB Website: www.rrfb.com or call 1 (800)665-LESS.
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1.2 The Waste Audit Guide
This document – The Waste Audit Guide -- is based on thetraditional method of assessing solid waste generation within anorganization -- sorting and weighing the materials generated aswaste. The goal is to produce fairly accurate estimates of theamount of materials available for source reduction, re-use,recycling and composting initiatives. During the course of itsdevelopment, the Guide has been tested on a number ofbusinesses and institutions and refined accordingly.
The time and resource demands of this process are reasonable. However, it does require the following:
ü a "champion" within the organization to lead the process;
ü the support of senior management;
ü the participation of key staff representatives in a series of 2 or3 meetings;
ü the dedication of one or two employees (depending on thesize of the organization) for a couple of weeks to sort andweigh the waste and to summarize the results; and,
ü a "buy-in" to the plan from most or all of the employees in theorganization if the program is to be successful over the longterm.
For those of you who wish to apply a less rigorous (and, therefore,less resource-intensive) method to assess your organization's solidwaste-resource management status and opportunities, please referto the Visual Estimate Assessment Guide. You can download itfrom the RRFB website (www.rrfb.com) or by calling 1 (800) 665-LESS or faxing (902) 662-2396.
Source Separationis the key…
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1.3 Some Points to Consider
The overall goal of this Guide is to assist you in developing acomprehensive waste reduction program for your organization. The9 Basic Steps for doing so are laid out at the very beginning ofSection 2 (page 5 below). Before you start, however, you shouldconsider the following points.
1. The 9 Basic Steps assume that you, or someone that yousolicit or appoint, is ready, willing and able to lead the process.The steps are addressed directly to the leader of the process --a waste reduction “champion” within the organization. This isvery important. Waste reduction initiatives work much better ifone person coordinates the process and motivates others. Ifyou are not this person, consider appointing someone who hasthe necessary qualifications and motivation. Alternatively, youcould seek a volunteer through your company's internalcommunication channels (staff newsletter, bulletin boards, etc.).You will find that most organizations have such a person in theirranks. Finally, you could consider the possibility of hiringsomeone to do the job -- see the box on the next page.
2. Take some time to consider the process in advance ofsetting it in motion. You may need more flexibility and youmay need to “personalize” it or tailor it to your organization. Forinstance, if your organization is small, three meetings may notbe necessary. On the other hand, a larger organization mayneed more than three meetings. While it is possible that thesedecisions could emerge during the process itself, some seriousthought in advance could help reduce unnecessary time spentin meetings. You might also want to enlist some help from asupportive colleague or two who could provide feedback to youbefore start-up.
3. Getting people “on-side” is a very big part of implementinga successful waste reduction plan. You will need supportfrom above and from below in order to make it work. You willalso need to consider how you will communicate the plan to allof the employees. In the case of larger organizations, acommunications strategy should be developed in tandem withthe Waste Reduction Action Plan.
An Example of "Buy-in"
Hotel Halifax was anearly player in thewaste-resource gamethrough reuse andrecycling programs.
In May 1998, underthe leadership of aGreen Team headedby Environ-mentalChairperson Scott Hill,the hotelcommissioned awaste audit. Theresulting informationallowed hotelmanagement and staffto implement anambitious program oforganics separation.
Scott Hill believes thatgetting long-term"buy-in" from the hotelstaff is of paramountimportance. The keyto achieving successis the "on-goingeducation of everyoneinvolved --communi-cating your goals iscritical."
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4. Go over the worksheets very closely, first by yourself andthen with the people who will be conducting the waste auditcomponent of the process. We have attempted to make theworksheets as self-explanatory as possible, but ambiguities anddiffering interpretations are always possible with forms that relyon short headings. Also, it is important to recognize that everyfacility is different. The RRFB has tried to make this Guide andworksheets as generic as possible; however, you may find itdesirable to make modifications appropriate for your particularcircumstances.
How to hire a Waste Reduction Coordinator for $100/week!
If your organization is a large one and you feel that the workinvolved in doing an audit and creating a Waste Reduction ActionPlan (WRAP) is fairly substantial, you might want to consider thefederal government’s On-Site Program. Under this program, anemployer can advertise for and hire a professional for six monthsor more to perform environmentally related work. The candidatesmust be unemployed and eligible for employment insurancebenefits, which they would receive for the duration of thecontract. The employer is required to contribute $100 per week tothe Program to cover administrative costs. If you would like moreinformation on how this program could help you develop yourWRAP, you can call On-Site directly at(902) 423-0221.
The Clean Nova Scotia Foundation Can Help!
If you would like some help with your waste audit, why not giveCNSF a call? The folks at the Foundation have done manyaudits. They could help you do your audit, create a WasteReduction Action Plan, or just make a few improvements in theway you handle solid waste at your facility. CNSF is a registerednot-for profit organization. You can reach them at 1-800-665-LESS. If you would like to find out more about the organization,visit the website at www.clean.ns.ca.
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2 IMPLEMENTING A COMPREHENSIVE WASTEREDUCTION PROGRAM
2.1 The 9 Basic Steps to Implementing a ComprehensiveWaste Reduction Action Plan
The following steps describe the process involved in implementinga comprehensive Waste Reduction Action Plan. The heart of theprocess is the waste audit, which will provide you with the datayou need.
1. Commitment ofSenior Management
2. Working Group
4. FirstMeeting
5. Conduct theWaste Audit
7. Secondmeeting
3. Plan YourWaste Audit
8. DraftActionPlan
9. FinalMeeting
6. AnalyseData
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However, the process itself begins before the audit and continuesafterward, through to the development and implementation of theWaste Reduction Action Plan. For some of the 9 Basic Steps, theRRFB has produced materials to assist you during the process.Examples include audit worksheets and lists of waste reductionoptions. These are referred to where appropriate in the discussionof the 9 Basic Steps and are included in the appendices. Detailedinstructions on how to use the five worksheets are provided inSections 2.2 to 2.4.
Once you have read this document, make a tour of the facility(unless you are already familiar with the general layout and theway in which solid waste is handled). Then review how the processand the various tools can be adapted to your facility. Now, you areready to proceed.
Step 1: Obtain Commitment of Senior Management
If the assessment process is not being led by senior management,present your case for undertaking this project to them and get acommitment of the necessary resources. This should include thededication of one or two employees for one to two weeks toconduct the actual audit and summarize the results1. Develop adraft letter of official support for management’s signature.Communicating this to all employees is extremely important.
Step 2: Set up a Working Group
Send the letter signed by management to all relevant departmentheads and set a date for the first meeting. The letter shouldindicate the meeting will discuss the upcoming waste audit and theintention to develop a Waste Reduction Action Plan using theassessment data. It should also ask each department head to
1 The employees selected to conduct the audit do not require any specialqualifications or background. They must be willing to follow instructions carefullyand be prepared to sort through some unpleasant materials. Companies oftenuse junior employees or hire students on short term contracts to do this work, asit can reduce the overall cost.
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assign a representative to attend this and future meetings andoversee initiatives within the department. Because of their crucialrole in the handling of waste, a member of the custodial staffshould also be asked to attend. In the case of smallerorganizations, the letter should be circulated to all employees.
Step 3: Plan Your Waste Audit
You will need to decide the following in advance of the firstmeeting:
§ How, when, and how often to sample the waste stream.§ How to collect the samples and how to label them for
identification purposes (you will need to know where thematerials come from within the organization).
§ Who will be doing the actual weighing and sorting.
Further details on how to make these decisions are presented inSections 2.2 and 2.3 below. It is very important to do this planningbefore the first meeting because you will need to discuss theprocess with the Working Group in order to secure theircooperation in the collecting of the samples.
Step 4: Hold the First Meeting
§ Discuss the purpose of the meeting with everyone. Emphasizethe need for diversion and the implications of the provinciallandfill/incinerator bans. See Appendix J for suggestions aboutsocial-marketing principles that can be outlined at this meeting.
§ Introduce the person(s) who will be conducting the audit anddiscuss the method that you have chosen for collecting thesamples and marking them for identification purposes (seeSection 2.2 for details). In particular, discuss the roles of eachof the members of the working group in assisting with thisprocess (the custodial representative may be a key person inthis discussion, depending on the system you have selected forcollecting the samples).
§ Distribute a questionnaire for completion by each member ofthe working group. This questionnaire should solicitinformation regarding the current system: which materials (ifany) are currently recycled or composted; how do thecollection systems for waste and recyclables work; how many
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containers are there for each material and where are theysituated; etc. An example of such a questionnaire is includedin this Guide as Appendix I.
§ Finally, ask everyone to come to next meeting prepared todiscuss the results of the audit and to participate in thedevelopment of a plan to ensure maximum diversion andcompliance with the landfill bans across the entire facility.
Step 5: Conduct the Waste Audit
The audit may take several days or several weeks to conduct,depending on how you decide to sample the waste. The samplesshould be taken to an area where there is room to spread a plasticsheet on the floor (or a large table) for sorting. The material is thensorted and weighed by type (organic, corrugated cardboard,polystyrene, etc.) and by source (cafeteria, administration, shopfloor, etc.) and the results recorded on copies of Worksheet 1(separate worksheets for each source location). Again, thisprocess is covered in much greater detail in Sections 2.2 and 2.3.
Step 6: Analyze the Data
Collect all the worksheets from the auditors. Make sure all of theinformation needed to make decisions on actions is summarized(see Section 2.4). Use the data and information in this documentto form some preliminary recommendations (e.g., develop a facility-wide composting program, develop a system to re-use transportpackaging, etc.). You can get some guidance in this area from theGeneral Suggestions for 3Rs in Appendix E.
Step 7: Hold the Second Meeting
Make a brief presentation on findings to the working group. Leadthe discussion about the data collected and your preliminaryrecommendations. Get the group’s feedback and ask for theircommitment (see box on the next page and Appendix J forsuggestions on commitment strategies). Hand out Ideas Sheet(Appendix G) and a copy of General Suggestions for 3Rs(Appendix H). Ask that the Ideas Sheet be filled out and returned
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to you. Schedule a third meeting to finalize a Waste ReductionAction Plan.
Step 8: Do Rough Draft of Action Plan
Use the results of the second meeting and the ideas sent in by therepresentatives to develop a rough draft of a Waste ReductionAction Plan. This could consist of a brief description of theinitiatives to be undertaken, along with a schedule and milestones.Send this Waste Reduction Action Plan to all representatives inadvance of the third meeting.
Step 9: Hold Third and Final Meeting
The goal of this meeting is to finalize the Waste Reduction ActionPlan and to discuss implementation. The group should decide onresponsibilities and finalize the timelines. Finally, set a date inthe future to meet and evaluate the program.
2.2 Preparing for the Waste Audit
The waste audit is the part of the process that generates the dataneeded to develop your Waste Reduction Action Plan. It consistsof sampling the waste stream and then sorting and weighing thedifferent materials in the samples in order to get a snapshot of theentire annual generation of solid waste by the facility. Although awaste audit is a relatively simple procedure, there are a fewimportant considerations. These have to do with sampleselection, collection procedure, and equipment needs. Theseconsiderations are discussed in some detail below.
� How to select your samples.
You want to be sure that the figures you end up with arereasonably accurate. Therefore, you need to think about how therate of waste generation at the facility varies over the course of aday, week, month and year. Your samples should berepresentative, either individually or in sum total, of the total wastegenerated by the facility annually. Are there certain times of theyear (e.g., the Christmas season) when more waste is generated? Does the flow of waste have a daily or weekly pattern? You willneed to answer these questions, at least in general terms, in orderto determine how to select your samples.
CommitmentStrategies andOther MotivationalTechniques
Asking for a formalcommitment fromvolunteers (especiallyin a written form) hasbeen clearlydemonstrated tosubstantially increasethe likelihood thatthey will followthrough with theaction(s) or behaviourchange requested. For a summary seeAppendix J.
For a more thoroughdiscussion of theprinciples ofbehaviouralpsychology as theyapply to wastereduction and otherenvironmentalactivities, obtain acopy of “Promotinga SustainableFuture: AnIntroduction toCommunity-BasedSocial Marketing”,by Dr. DougMcKenzie-Mohr. Thisdocument isavailable from theNational Round Tableon the Environmentand the Economy, tel:(613) 992-7189; fax:(613) 992-7385.
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[NOTE: This might seem something like a “chicken and egg”situation, as you are being asked to assess your waste flow beforedoing your audit. It is important, however, to avoid inadvertent biasin the sampling. The custodial staff should be able to give you arelatively good idea of the “ebb and flow” of waste coming out ofyour facility.]
There are a number of different ways to approach the task ofdesigning a sampling protocol. The following are recommendedbecause of their relative simplicity combined with reasonableaccuracy.
§ If waste generation is fairly constant and evenly distributedover time, you can simply pick two or three sample periods(e.g., three 24-hour days) over the course of a business cycle(one week, or the point at which operations begin to repeatthemselves). Collect all of the waste during the sampleperiods2.
§ If your facility tends to have maximum and/or minimumdays of the week of waste generation (e.g., grocery storesoften generate the most waste on Mondays), you might sampleon a maximum day, a minimum day, and on an average day(again, collecting all of the waste for these periods). You coulduse the average day for your projections and adjust up or downdepending on the results of the maximum and minimum-daysamples. Alternatively, you could sample only on the maximumand minimum days and treat the resulting figures as upper andlower limits, taking an average to represent your overallgeneration.
§ If waste generation typically varies over the course of theyear, you could choose a period that lies somewhere in themiddle. Sample a few times during that period and consider theresults to be an average rate of generation. If you wereconcerned about upper limits (because of contract agreements,container capacity, etc.), you could also sample during the high-generation period, so that you could plan for peak periods.
� How to collect your samples.
2 Very large organizations may choose to sample only part of the wastecollected during a given time period. In this case, however, care must be takento ensure that the sample selected is representative of the period.
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You have two objectives to consider in setting up a system tocollect the samples for the audit:
1. The samples should consist of all of the waste generatedover exactly the time period specified (e.g., 24 hours). Thismeans that all staff handling the waste, either as generators orcollectors, must be aware of the sampling process and beprepared to cooperate in carrying it out.
2. Each bag or container of waste constituting the sampleshould be identified with respect to its source. Eachdepartment within the facility could be issued stickers, tags, ordifferent coloured bags to use during the sample period. It isvery important to be able to identify each bag or container’ssource, so that the Waste Reduction Action Plan can targetwaste streams in particular departments (e.g., fine paper fromadministration, food wastes from the cafeteria).
The actual means of collecting the sample will depend on thecurrent waste collection system within your facility. You shouldwork out your plan in consultation and cooperation with yourcustodial staff or contractors. This should be done in advance ofthe first meeting in order to facilitate discussion. The members ofthe working group, with their knowledge of their individualdepartments, may be able to help you refine your plans at the initialmeeting.
� The equipment you will need.
The sorting and weighing of solid waste requires the followingequipment:
§ a pair of rubber gloves for each auditor (who should also beadvised to wear old clothing for this work);
§ a set of scales suitable for weighing bags or containers ofmaterials;
§ a tarp or plastic sheet for spreading and sorting the waste;§ several copies of Worksheet 1 in Appendix A (one copy for
each department, plus a few extras);§ a container or extra bags for weighing the sorted materials;§ a copy of this Guide;§ a table on which to spread the tarp and sort the waste (optional
-- can be done on floor).
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In addition, you will need enough free space to store your samples,as well as setting up and operating your audit.
2.3 Conducting the Waste Audit
Once the samples have been collected and stored in theappropriate place, you can begin sorting and weighing thematerials. The following “one-at-a-time” approach is recommended.
Take a copy of Worksheet 1 (Appendix A) and fill in the requiredinformation at the top. Next, take one bag or container and dump iton the tarp. You can then separate the materials into thecategories at the top of Worksheet 1. Materials that do not fitthose categories can be compared with the Material List inAppendix F. You can then add new categories in the blank spacesprovided. If possible, sort and weigh all of the materials fromone department (e.g., cafeteria) before going on to the next.This will allow you to complete one worksheet before startinganother and will minimize the chances for error. Once the first bagis sorted, weigh the different categories of materials entering theweights (in kg) in the appropriate box (e.g., compostable food &plant waste, bag #1). When completed, dispose of the materials,open bag #2, and repeat the process.
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When you have completed sorting and weighing all of the bagsfrom the first department selected, take a new copy of Worksheet1 and repeat the process with another department. At the end ofthe process, you should have one or more3 completed copies ofWorksheet 1 for each department in the facility.
2.4 Working With the Data
The figures on your multiple copies of Worksheet 1 are the rawdata; Worksheets 2 to 5 have been designed to help you turn thatdata into the information that you need to develop a sound andpractical Waste Reduction Action Plan. This section will lead youthrough the calculations involved
� Worksheet 2
Worksheet 2 (Appendix B) is intended to aggregate the data fromthe various copies of Worksheet 1 onto one sheet (two if there aremore than 13 departments in your facility; three if more than 26,etc.). The material types down the left side of the Worksheet arethe same as on Worksheet 1. Therefore, you should start by
3 The number of copies of Worksheet 1 for each department will depend on thesize of the sample selected. The Worksheets are set up to handle seven bagsor containers. If a department has more than that, additional copies will berequired.
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adding any material types that were added to any of the copies ofWorksheet 1 filled out during the audit.
Next, you should enter the names of the various departments (or acode for each) into the heading spaces above the sub-columns ofColumn 2 on Worksheet 2. You can then take the totals from eachWorksheet 1 (one department at a time) and enter them in theappropriate sub-column. For example, if Worksheet 1 shows thatthe cafeteria produced a total of 123 kg of food waste, enter thatnumber in the “compostable food & plant waste” row of the“cafeteria” column.
Once all of the numbers have been transferred to Worksheet 2,add all of the rows and columns to get totals.
� Worksheet 3
Worksheet 3 (Appendix C) is intended to guide you through theextrapolation of your sample numbers to an estimate of yourfacility’s annual generation of the different materials in the wastestream. Two possible methods are proposed:
1. If you know the annual weight of the waste stream...
Some organizations have contracts with waste haulers who keep arecord of the weight of refuse that they haul away for each of theircustomers. If you can get this number, you can use it to adjustyour sample results. The method is described on Worksheet 3.This is probably the most accurate way of estimating annualweights, as it is based on the previous year’s actual weight of
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waste -- a number that is unlikely to vary that much from thecurrent year’s figure. Of course, if the organization has undergonesome major change since the previous year, you might want toforego this method and try method 2 below. Alternatively, you canuse one or more monthly figures from the current year (if yourhauler can give them to you) and extrapolate them to get anestimate of this year’s total weight of solid waste. If you opt for thelatter approach, make sure that the month or months you chooseare fairly typical of the whole year (see Section 2.2 for discussionof sampling considerations).
2. If you do not know the annual weight of the waste stream...
This method is based on the number of working days representedby the samples compared to the number of working days in a year.The method is described on the bottom half of Worksheet 3. Thisapproach will be as accurate as your sample is representative, soconsider carefully If you do not know the annual weight of yourfacility’s waste, you will have to use this method of estimatingannual material flows. It is therefore very important to considercarefully how representative your samples are.
� Worksheet 4
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Worksheet 4 (Appendix D) is a transition worksheet. Use it tosummarize the data in Worksheet 2 multiplied by either of theratios from Worksheet 3. For example, if the weight of the“compostable food & plant waste” row of the cafeteria column ofWorksheet 2 is 123 kg, and the ratio of working days to sampledays in your facility is 250 to 2 (i.e. 125), then the number to enterinto the same box in Worksheet 4 is 123 times 125, or 15 375 kg.This is the estimated annual weight of this material generated bythis department.
Every box in Worksheet 2 should be multiplied by the ratio andentered in Worksheet 4.
� Worksheet 5
There are two calculations involved in Worksheet 5 (Appendix E).Each material-group row is divided into two sub-rows. The top sub-row is for an aggregated annual weight for this material group. Thebottom sub-row is for the corresponding percentage of the entirewaste stream that that weight represents. The processes forcalculating these numbers are as follows.
1. Aggregate the material numbers in Worksheet 4 intomaterial groups. For example, add food waste and non-
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recyclable paper together under “compostable materials” inWorksheet 5. To do this, just take the numbers in the boxes ofWorksheet 4 that have the same code in the left column (CM,BB, BC, etc.) and add them together; the sum of each goes inthe corresponding box in Worksheet 5 (the top sub-row of eachmaterial-group row). From the previous example: the 15 375 kgof food waste produced by the cafeteria each year would beadded to 1425 kg of non-recyclable paper produced annually bythe cafeteria (mostly boxboard packaging) to produce a“compostable materials” (CM) total of 16 800 kg. This totalwould go in the cafeteria column, compostable material rowof Worksheet 5. The same process would be carried out for allof the material rows in Worksheet 4. Please note that many ofthe materials are groups unto themselves (e.g., scrap tires) andthat no addition is required -- the numbers are simplytransferred to the appropriate box on Worksheet 5.
2. The corresponding percentages of each group/departmentare calculated. The total estimated annual weight of the wastestream should appear on the bottom of Worksheet 4. Each ofthe annual weights in the top sub-rows of Worksheet 5 shouldbe divided by this number and multiplied by 100 to yield apercentage figure. For instance, the 16 800 kg of compostablematerials would be divided by the annual total waste generated(170 000 kg) and multiplied by 100 to produce a figure of 10%.
Once all of the numbers have been entered and the percentagecalculations made, Worksheet 5 will have in summary form allof the data you need to construct your Waste ReductionAction Plan.
2.5 Making Recommendations
As described in the 9 Basic Steps, the audit data should bepresented to the representatives at the second meeting. Youshould prepare for the meeting by developing somerecommendations as to which material streams to target and whichtypes of initiatives to consider. You can get some ideas from thelist of General Suggestions for 3Rs in Appendix H.
Some examples of recommendations based on findings are asfollows:
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§ High levels of contamination of existing recyclingprograms. You might wish to recommend the development ofan employee communications and education program (See Boxon Page 9 and Appendix J regarding information oneducational and motivational techniques).
§ Large amounts of organic materials in the waste stream. You might wish to recommend an investigation of on-site andoff-site composting options.
§ High levels of paper in both recycling and waste streams. Investigating the possibility that source reduction and re-useinitiatives such as double-sided copying and re-use of scrappaper may be indicated.
It is highly recommended that you and others involved in thedrafting of the Waste Reduction Action Plan read the summary ofCommunity-Based Social Marketing in Appendix J. The ideasdescribed here have been applied widely and successfully to bringabout change in environmental behaviour, especially in waste-resource management.
Recommendations from the leader of the process will providestructure to the meeting and prompt discussion. In the end,everyone has to agree with the initiatives selected if they are to besuccessfully implemented and sustained.
In conclusion, remember that the Waste-Resource Assessment isonly the first step in a long-term strategy to divert and reducewaste, turn waste into resources and meet the landfill banrequirements of Nova Scotia. The Waste Reduction Action Planyou develop must be sustained with an on-going internalcommunications program which engages the attention and supportof all of your employees.
APPENDICES
Appendix A................................................................ ............................ Worksheet 1
Appendix B................................................................ ............................ Worksheet 2
Appendix C................................................................ ............................ Worksheet 3
Appendix D................................................................ ............................ Worksheet 4
Appendix E................................................................ ............................ Worksheet 5
Appendix F ................................................................ .............................Material List
Appendix G ............................................................... ..............................Ideas Sheet
Appendix H................................................................ General Suggestions for 3Rs
Appendix I ................................................................. ............Sample Questionnaire
Appendix J ................................................................ ..A New Way to Bring Change
APPENDIX AAPPENDIX A
WORKSHEET 1:MATERIALS GOING TO DISPOSAL: SAMPLE SHEET
Name of auditor: __________________ Facility: ______________________________
Date sampled: ____________________Source location: _______________________
Column 1: Material Type Bag or Container # Totals
Corrugated cardboard
Beverage containers
Newsprint
Scrap tires
Waste paint
Compostable food & plant waste
Non-recyclable paper
Steel/tin food containers
Glass food containers
Low-density polyethylene plastic
High-density polyethylene plastic
Plastics (not LDPE or HDPE)
Wood (including pallets)
Textiles
Fine paper
Drums and pails
APPENDIX AAPPENDIX A
Column 1: Material Type Bag or Container # Totals
APPENDIX BAPPENDIX B
WORKSHEET 2:MATERIALS GOING TO DISPOSAL: SAMPLE SUMMARY SHEET
Name of auditor: _______________________________ Facility: ________________________________________
Column 1: Column 2: Source Location Col. 3:Material Type Totals
Corrugated cardboard
Beverage containers
Newsprint
Scrap tires
Waste paint
Compostable food /plant waste
Non-recyclable paper
Steel/tin food containers
Glass food containers
Low-density polyethylene
High-density polyethylene
Sub-Totals (page 1)
APPENDIX BAPPENDIX B
Column 1: Column 2: Source Location Col. 3:Material Type Totals
Plastics (not LDPE or HDPE)
Wood (including pallets)
Textiles
Fine paper
Drums and pails
Sub-Total (page 2)
Sub-Totals (from Page 1)
TOTALS
APPENDIX CAPPENDIX C
WORKSHEET 3:ESTIMATING ANNUAL MATERIAL STREAMS
Name of auditor: ________________________ Facility:___________________
IF YOU KNOW THE ANNUAL WEIGHT OF THE WASTE STREAM:
Annual weight of materials disposed of by facility (kg) Box A
Total weight of samples (kg) Box B
Ratio of annual weight to sample weight (divide numberin Box A by number in Box B -- i.e., Box A/Box B)
Box C
We can now calculate the annual weight of each of the material types. Multiplythe weights for each material and department (Column 2, Worksheet 2) bythe ratio in Box C above and enter the numbers in the weight rows ofColumn 2 of Worksheet 3.
IF YOU DO NOT KNOW THE ANNUAL WEIGHT OF THE WASTE STREAM:
Number of workdays in a typical year4 Box D
Number of days waste that the samples represent (intotal)
Box E
Ratio of total workdays to sample workdays (dividenumber in Box D by number in Box E -- i.e., Box D/BoxE)
Box F
We can now calculate the annual weight of each of the material types. Multiplythe weights for each material and department (Column 2, Worksheet 2) bythe ratio in Box F above and enter the numbers in the weight rows ofColumn 2 of Worksheet 3.
4 Typical year statistics: Weekdays -- 260; statutory holidays -- 11.
APPENDIX DAPPENDIX D
WORKSHEET 4:MATERIALS GOING TO DISPOSAL: ANNUAL ESTIMATES
Name of auditor: _____________________________ Facility: ____________________________________________
Column 1: Column 2: Source Location Col. 3:Material Type Totals
Corrugated cardboard - CC
Beverage containers - BC
Newsprint - RF
Scrap tires - ST
Waste paint - WP
Food & plant waste - CM
Non-recyclable paper - CM
Steel/tin food containers - BB
Glass food containers - BB
Low-density polyethylene - BB
High-density polyethylene - BB
Sub-Totals (page 1)
APPENDIX DAPPENDIX D
Column 1: Column 2: Source Location Col. 3:Material Type Totals
Plastics (not LDPE /HDPE) - RP
Wood (including pallets) - WD
Textiles - TX
Fine paper - FP
Drums and pails - DP
Sub-Total (page 2)
Sub-Totals (from Page 1)
TOTALS
APPENDIX E
WORKSHEET 5:MATERIALS AVAILABLE FOR DIVERSION -- ANNUALLY, BY DEPARTMENT
Name of auditor: __________________________________ Facility: __________________________
MATERIAL GROUP Annualweight(AW) Column 3: Source Location Col.
4:% ofwastestream
Totals
Compostable AW
materials (CM) %
Blue Bag AW
materials (BB) %
Beverage AW
containers (BC) %
Corrugated AW
cardboard (CC) %
Fine paper AW
(FP) %
Other recyclable AW
fibres (RF) %
APPENDIX EMATERIAL GROUP Annual
weight(AW) Column 3: Source Location Col.
4:% ofwastestream
Totals
Scrap tires AW
(ST) %
Waste paint AW
(WP) %
Recyclableplastics
AW
(RP) %
Wood (including AW
pallets) (WD) %
AW
%
AW
%
AW
%
AW
%
APPENDIX EMATERIAL GROUP Annual
weight(AW) Column 3: Source Location Col.
4:% ofwastestream
Totals
AW
%
AW
%
AW
%
AW
%
AW
%
AW
%
AW
%
TOTALS AW
%
APPENDIX F
MATERIAL LIST: What is in Each of the Material Categories
Compostable Materials (CM)
Food Waste (cooked or raw)Fruit & vegetable peelingsTable scrapsMeat, chicken, fish and bonesShellfish, including shellsDairy productsCooking oil, grease & fatBread, rice, pastaEggshellsCoffee grounds & filtersTea leaves & bags
Yard WasteGrass, leaves & brushHouse & garden plant wasteSoil & old sod
Boxboard (remove foil & plastic liners, metal fasteners, serrated edges, etc.)Cereal, shoe, tissue, detergent, cracker, & cookie boxesPizza boxes (all other corrugated cardboard should be recycled)Toilet paper rolls & paper towel rolls
Non-Recyclable PaperSoiled napkins, paper towels & fast food wrappersWaxed paper & cardboard (please continue to recycle milk cartons)File foldersYellow (manila) envelopesWrapping paper (no foil paper please)Paper plates & cuts (not Styrofoam)Damp & soiled newspapers & flyersSugar & Flour bagsTissue/Kleenex
OtherSawdust & wood shavingsPopsicle sticks, toothpicks, cotton balls, wooden Q-tipsKitty litter
APPENDIX F
Recyclable (Blue Bag) Materials (BB)
Steel & aluminum cansGlass bottles & jars#4 LDPE plastic bags#2 HDPE narrow neck plastic bottles (e.g., shampoo bottles, liquid dish soap bottles, etc.)#1 PETE plastic containers (e.g., salad dressing bottles, etc.)Milk cartons
Beverage Containers (BC)
All redeemable beverage containers
Recyclable Fibres (RF)
Corrugated cardboardNewspapers, flyers, magazines, catalogues, paper egg cartons, paperbacks, phone booksBond paperEnvelopes (with & without windows), “junk mail”, coupons, etc.(NO manila envelopes, photographs, carbon paper, travel/overnight envelopes, or overheads)
Scrap Tires (ST)
Recyclable Plastics (excluding Blue Bag containers) (RP)
Shrink wrapPlastic wrap for pink insulation bats
Waste Paint (WP)
Textiles (TX)
Wood (WD)
PalletsWood packaging (crates)Wooden spools
Drums and pails (DP)
Scrap Metals (SM)
APPENDIX F
Garbage/Non-recyclables
Worn out textilesRubber other than scrap tiresComposite materials such as chip bags#2 HDPE wide mouthed plastic containers (e.g., margarine & ice cream tubs)#2 HDPE "crinkly" plastic bags#3, 5, 6 & 7 plastics (except beverage containers) - PVC, polypropylene, & polystyreneDisposable diapersPersonal hygiene productsPaper products and fabrics contaminated with motor oils or solventsWood with preservatives, coatings or adhesivesNon-container glass (e.g., windshields, crystal, Pyrex, etc.)
APPENDIX G
IDEAS SHEET
Please list below any ideas you may have about opportunities for reducing, reusing, recycling,and composting at your facility.
APPENDIX H
General Suggestions for 3Rs
REDUCE· Double sided photocopying.· Discourage disposable containers.· E-mail and bulletin boards instead of separate memos to everyone.· Bring your own coffee mug to work.· If you have a water cooler use a glass or your mug instead of the disposable
polystyrene or paper cups.· Promote litterless lunches: No disposables - reusable containers only.· Purchase a reusable coffee filter for the coffee machine.· Discourage the use of straws, paper napkins, and disposable stirring sticks.· Provide milk, sugar, coffee, and condiments in the lunch room in bulk containers.· Use cloth loop towels instead of paper towels.· Set up a car pool notice in the building.
REUSE· Send used books and office equipment to a local charity or social service agency.· Post a sign informing staff that cardboard boxes are available for their home use.· Provide reusable utensils are available in the lunch room.· Circulate newspapers and magazines.· Use blank side of paper for photocopying draft copies of work.· Place a tray beside the photocopier for one sided paper that can be reused.· Use inter-office envelopes.· Use refillable pens and pencils, and reuse paper clips and file folders.· Re-ink printer/toner cartridges.
RECYCLE· Encourage all employees have a recycling container next to their desk.· Buy materials with recycled content.· Ensure there are adequate recycling receptacles throughout the building.· Set up a backyard composting unit on the grounds and post signs for staff
informing them of the of acceptable materials.· Investigate other on-site composting options.· Place adequate signs above recycling bins describing the materials accepted.
GENERAL· Set up a suggestion box and designate a person responsible for conveying
suggestions to the building operators/managers.· Be certain that there are an appropriate number of garbage receptacles.· Ensure that garbage receptacles are sized appropriately.
APPENDIX I
SAMPLE QUESTIONNAIRE
Contact Name ___________________________ Date ________________________________
Title ___________________________________ Phone _______________________________
FACILITY DESCRIPTION
1. Occupied Square Footage ___________________ 3. Business Hours_________________
2. Total Number of Employees _________________ 4. Days Open Per Week ____________
WASTE & RECYCLING HANDLING - INTERNAL
1a) Which staff collects waste inside the facility?
_____________________________________________________
1b) Which staff collects recyclables inside the facility?
_____________________________________________________
2. Which of the following items does your facility recycle on a regular basis?
______ office paper
______ corrugated cardboard
______ #4 LDPE plastic bags
______ #2 HDPE plastic containers
(e.g., shampoo bottles)
______ beverage containers
______ scrap metal
______ toner cartridges/cash register
ribbons
__ ____ mixed paper (glossy inserts, magazines)
______ newsprint
______ glass food containers
______ steel/tin food containers
______ milk cartons
______ other
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
APPENDIX IAPPENDIX I
3. Please check the top 4 or 5 items that you think represent the bulk of your
facility’s waste stream, and prioritize them by number.
______ corrugated cardboard______ newsprint______ recyclable paper (e.g., bond, magazines, flyers)______ other paper (e.g., paper cups, towels, cereal boxes)______ beverage containers______ glass food containers______ other glass (e.g., windows, lights)______ steel/tin food containers______ #4 LDPE plastic bags (e.g., bread bags)______ other plastic (e.g., strapping, shrink wrap)______ food waste______ hazardous wastes (e.g., cleaners, paint)______ other ___________________________________ other ___________________________________ other _____________________________
4. Please indicate the types of containers currently used to collect recyclables
internally. (You may check more than one).
_____ blue bags ______ blue boxes ______ blue “garbage” bins
_____ other _____________________________________________________
_____ other _____________________________________________________
WASTE HANDLING - EXTERNAL
NOTE: To answer these questions you may need to examine a recent bill from your waste
hauler or recycler.
1. Name of hauler who collects your waste
_________________________________________________________
2. Collection frequency for waste dumpster: Times per week
_________________________________________________________
APPENDIX IAPPENDIX I
3. Cost of waste dumpster service (including rental of bin, hauling fee and disposal
charges)
$ per month __________ $ per year __________
4. Number of waste dumpsters __________Size of waste dumpsters _____________
5. Is the waste dumpster(s) usually full at the time it is emptied?
Yes _______ No _______
If not, how full is it? ________%
Is it ever overflowing? __________ If so, how often? ____________________
RECYCLING HANDLING - EXTERNAL
1. If you recycle, name of hauler who collects your:
(Note: Check here if one hauler collects all your recyclables ____ )
Corrugated Cardboard _______________ Blue Bag Recyclables ____________________
Beverage Containers ________________ Recyclable Paper _______________________
Other (___________________)________ Other (________________________)________
2. Collection frequency for: (Times per week)
Corrugated Cardboard __________________Blue Bag Recyclables ____________________
Beverage Containers ___________________Recyclable Paper ________________________
Other (__________________)____________Other (___________________)_____________
APPENDIX IAPPENDIX I
3. Answer the following questions with reference to the collection containers in
which the items rest just prior to pick-up. For example, a recyclable paper cart,
not the blue box.
Size of Corrugated Cardboard bin__________________________________________
Number of Blue Bags per week (or size of collection bin) ________________________
Number of bags of Beverage Containers per week (or size of collection bin) _________
Size of Recyclable Paper collection bins _____________________________________
Size of Bin/No. of Bags for other recyclables _________________________________
4. Cost of recycling services (including rental of bin, hauling fee and disposal
charges)
Corrugated Cardboard _________ per month Blue Bag Recyclables ___________ per month
Beverage Containers __________per month Recyclable Paper _______________ per month
Other (______________)________per month Other (_________________)______per month
BANNED MATERIALS
1. Please indicate how your facility is currently handling/disposing of the following
materials which are now banned from landfill disposal.
Redeemable Beverage Containers
___________________________________________________________________________
Corrugated Cardboard
___________________________________________________________________________
Newsprint
___________________________________________________________________________
Lead-Acid Automotive Batteries
___________________________________________________________________________
Leaf and Yard Waste
___________________________________________________________________________
APPENDIX IAPPENDIX I
Scrap Tires
___________________________________________________________________________
Waste Paint
___________________________________________________________________________
Automotive Antifreeze
___________________________________________________________________________
Steel/Tin Food Containers
___________________________________________________________________________
Glass Food Containers
___________________________________________________________________________
LDPE Plastic Bags & Packaging (e.g., bread bags)
___________________________________________________________________________
HDPE Plastic Packaging (e.g., shampoo bottles)
___________________________________________________________________________
Compostable Organic Materials (the answer here may be determined by the answers in the
next section)
___________________________________________________________________________
FOOD WASTES
1. Does your facility have a:
______ cafeteria? ______ lunch room? ______ visiting snack truck?
2. How are food wastes from these areas currently handled? (You may check more
than one)
______ placed in garbage ______ indoor vermicomposter ______ backyard composter
______ employees bring home ______ donations to charity ______ sent to rendering plant
APPENDIX IAPPENDIX I
SHIPPING/RECEIVING
1. Do you ship/receive goods in any of the following permanent, reusable crating
systems?
______ milk crates ______ bread crates ______ other (____________________)
______ plastic totes ______ plastic pallets ______ other (____________________)
2. How are the goods you receive packaged? (you may check more than one)
______ cardboard carton ______ plastic strapping ______ hard plastic bucket
______ stretch wrap ______ wooden pallet ______ reusable pallet
______ drum ______ other (___________________________________)
3. Do any of your suppliers take back expired, unsold, or reusable goods or
equipment? If yes, please indicate what items.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
_____
WASTE REDUCTION
1. Is your facility currently involved in any of the following waste reduction efforts?
______ 2-sided photocopying ______ refillable products (e.g., pens, cleaners)
______ bulk purchasing ______ cloth towels in restrooms
______ coffee mugs for staff ______ scrap paper reuse
______ toner cartridge recharge ______ purchase items in concentrate (e.g., cleaners)
APPENDIX IAPPENDIX I
______ offer waste materials to customers who ask (what materials? (___________________)
______ donate waste materials to charities? (what materials? (__________________)
______ other (_________________________________________________)
______ other (_________________________________________________)
______ other (_________________________________________________)
______ other (_________________________________________________)
EQUIPMENT AND RESOURCES
1. Do you have any of the following equipment or resources that could be used for a
recycling program?
______ vehicle ______ loading dock ______ extra storage space
______ baler ______ shredder ______ large storage containers
PURCHASING
1. Does your facility currently purchase any of the following recycled or re-
manufactured products?
______ office paper______ toner cartridges ______ plastic containers______ tissue/toweling
______ equipment ______ other _______________________________________________)
2. Does your facility or corporate office have an official green purchasing policy?
______ Yes ______ No
If yes, please explain briefing the items that it covers (e.g., requires that all office
paper purchased be at least 50% recycled content)
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
APPENDIX IAPPENDIX I
GENERAL
1. Please list your organization’s primary waste management concerns and/or
problems (e.g., staffing problems, equipment problems, large volume materials,
problem materials).
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
APPENDIX JAPPENDIX J
A New Way to Bring Change
One of the most important things to remember is that we are all human. Change is noteasy, nor does it just happen. Changing behaviour is a challenge. If you want to helpyour employees rise to the challenges of your Waste Reduction Action Plan to divertand reduce waste in your organization, you may find the approach outlined belowhelpful.
The following is a brief summary of an approach to community-based social marketingby Dr. Doug McKenzie-Mohr. The Resource Recovery Fund Board believes that theseconcepts can be adapted and applied to your company or organization's WasteReduction Action Plan.
In the past, governments, businesses and institutions have developed programsdesigned to save energy, fight pollution and promote environmentally friendly solutionsto environmental problems. Your company or organization may have participated insome of these programs.
When results are measured, however, these programs are often less than successful. For example, in the 1970s the U.S. federal government tried to encourage energyefficiency by providing home assessments. Only 6 percent of eligible householdsapplied and, of these, only half made any changes at all. Most of the recommendationsfrom the assessments were simple and inexpensive, yet few people changed -- evenwhen they could save money! Why?
Doug McKenzie-Mohr’s research shows that people and businesses don’t makechanges just because they have access to information that indicates that they should.The key to real change is in how the information is delivered.
How then can we help people change? The answer lies in the systematic application ofthe principles of community-based social marketing. The approach can be summed upas follows:
1. Identify the barriers that prevent people from changing their behaviour;2. Develop a communications strategy that eliminates or minimizes the barriers;3. Implement the strategy;4. Monitor and modify the strategy as necessary. The systematic approach outlined above provides a structural framework for the CBSMapproach. Within that framework, there are a number of important concepts, including
APPENDIX JAPPENDIX J
commitment strategies, prompts, norm-building, and the principles of effectivecommunications. These ideas, along with the fundamental concept of barriers tobehaviour change, are discussed below.
1. Barriers
Barriers to behaviour change may be internal to the individual, such as:
• lack of awareness• non-supportive attitudes• absence of commitment
Other barriers exist outside the reach of the individual and require changes in the waythe workplace is organized or structured to provide opportunities for new,environmentally friendly behaviours. Examples of external barriers include:
• inconvenient or non-existent infrastructure• lack of authority or management support for the behaviour• lack of relevant information
It is important to realize, as well, that the barriers for one type of behaviour, such asconserving energy by turning off unneeded lighting, may be quite different from thebarriers for another, such as source-separating for recycling.
Since the barriers that prevent individuals from engaging in change are very specificand closely connected to the nature of the activity, it is important to uncover thebarriers. Once identified, it is possible to develop an approach to remove thesebarriers. This is best carried out through careful planning and the involvement of allemployees in the undertaking. The table on the following page shows some typicalbarriers.
APPENDIX JAPPENDIX J
Activity Barriers
Source Reduction • Awareness of environmentally friendlyproducts is low
• Cynicism about environmental claims• Unwilling to put much effort into
locating and using environmentallyfriendly products
• Not perceived as the right thing to doRecycling • What can be recycled is unclear
• Collection concerns• Cost of containers, bags and supplies• Timing of collection
Composting • Viewed as unpleasant• Viewed as inconvenient• Viewed as time consuming• What and how to compost is unclear• Not perceived as the right thing to do
Organic Separation • Employees are unclear as to what canbe put in organic receptacles
• Storing organics perceived to produceodours and attract rodents
2. Commitment: Turning Good Intentions Into Action
Research indicates that when people agree to a small request, they are more willing toconsider bigger requests. This initial agreement often alters the way they perceivethemselves. It capitalizes on a basic human desire to be consistent. If we can gain thiskind of commitment from people, we are well on the way to changing their behaviour.
It’s important to apply commitments in a real context. For example:
• When distributing new organics receptacles to key stations in your facility, ask theemployees who will use the area for suggestions about timing and frequency ofcollection; they know their habits and ways of doing things best
• In an area where several employees are responsible for disposal of waste, ask for avolunteer to be a team leader for that area
APPENDIX JAPPENDIX J
• Plan regular or periodic meetings to review progress and solicit suggestions aboutmaking the system more effective and efficient
Here is a checklist for using commitment:
§ Don’t use coercion. Commitments should be sought for behaviours that peopleexpress interest in doing.
§ Ask for a group or work team commitment when possible.§ Ask for the commitment in writing.
3. What is a Prompt?
A prompt is an auditory or visual aid that reminds us to carry out an activity that wemight otherwise forget. The purpose of the prompt is not to change attitudes orincrease motivation, but simply to remind us to engage in an action that we are alreadypredisposed to do. A small “buy-green” sign on order forms, for example, remindsemployees to look for a more environmental alternative when ordering supplies.
Here are some guidelines:
§ Make the prompt noticeable.§ The prompt should be self-explanatory.§ The prompt should be presented as close in time and space as possible to the
targeted behaviour.§ Use prompts to encourage people to engage in positive behaviours rather than to
avoid environmentally harmful actions.
4. Norms: Making Use of Company or Organization Standards
A "norm" is a fuzzy idea to most people. What do we mean when we say that a certainway of doing things is the norm? For example, most people, after entering an elevator,turn to face the door. This behaviour is the norm. A person facing the other direction is“out of step” with the norm, making themselves and others feel somewhatuncomfortable. The discomfort most people feel when they are not in step with aperceived norm is an important force for change. Norms are extremely powerfulmotivators.
In organizational terms, when most people in a company or institution have a generallyaccepted common belief, we can call this a norm. Research shows that people modifytheir own beliefs and behaviours to conform to “perceived” norms.
APPENDIX JAPPENDIX J
In many companies and institutions we already have a good example of an importantnorm -- recycling. Recycling has grown rapidly as businesses, institutions and thegeneral public as a whole have accepted recycling is “the right thing to do.” You mayhave noticed this yourself by observing increasing numbers of people putting outrecyclables on collection day in your own neighbourhood or the number of recyclingand cardboard-only dumpsters appearing at the back of commercial and institutionalbuildings.
How can we use norms to make our waste reduction programs a success? The waysare only limited by our imaginations. One of the most commonly used ways is toemploy “models” for the desired behaviour. If employees see their manager making ahighly visible effort to be on-side with a program, an important message is sent. Similarly, posters with pictures of (or statements by) co-workers are also very effective. A “green team” can lead by example as well. Norm-building is a gradual processwhereby employees come to see that the desired behaviour is the “right thing to do”and that others, both peers and upper management, share this belief. Eventually,being out of step with the norm becomes uncomfortable and the behaviour becomesentrenched.
Here is a checklist for using tools to develop norms:
§ The message should be simple but strong (e.g., “Recycling Means the World to Us”)§ Try to use models as much as possible;§ Make the desired norm as visible as possible (e.g., Blue Boxes for recycling);§ As with prompts, the norm should be made explicit at the time and place that the
targeted behaviour is to occur (posters that model the desired behaviour can bestrategically placed);
§ As with prompts, when possible use norms to encourage people to engage inpositive behaviours rather than to avoid environmentally harmful actions.
5. Communicating Effectively
Much of human communication involves persuasion. There are some simple ideasinvolved. First, in communicating with someone, it is critical to get his or her attention.Information that is presented in vivid, concrete and personal terms means more andcaptures attention and interest. Information presented from your own experience countsfor a lot.
It is important also that a person presenting information about your new sourceseparation approach to waste management have credibility. Your credibility is based onknowing your audience and presenting the information that meets its needs. You
APPENDIX JAPPENDIX J
should have a clear idea about how receptive the audience is to your message. Youshould decide how much information you need to communicate. In short yourmessages should be tailored to the people you are dealing with.
On environmental issues, including waste management, it has been quite common tostress the many threats to the environment, or an appeal to people’s fears. However,this approach should be coupled with messages that show individuals working within asense of community in the company or organization. This can make a difference.
Here is a checklist for Effective Communications:
§ Make sure that your message is vivid, personal and concrete.§ Know your audience.§ Always suggest concrete and specific action.§ Have your message delivered by credible, reliable people.§ Where possible, use personal contact.§ Build into your message commitment strategies; identify rising company and
organization standards, vivid anecdotes and examples.
For more detailed information, contact Doug McKenzie –Mohr:
McKenzie-Mohr & Associates290 Wright AvenueFredericton, New BrunswickE3B 2E4(506) 455-5061 FAX: (506) 455-5061 Email: [email protected]
You can also visit Dr. McKenzie-Mohr’s Community-Based Social Marketing website atwww.sustainable.stthomasu.ca
